Dec. 3, 2013
By Michael Renahan, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Taking on two top ranked opponents is a challenge for any team, let alone a team in just its second season of Division I hockey.
Throughout the season there will be ups and downs, but the hope is the team learns from the experiences and leaves those games feeling better and more prepared for the challenging road that lies ahead.
After taking on No. 16 UMass Lowell and No. 15 Union over the past three weeks, Penn State learned a lot about the game. They learned a lot about themselves, as well. They can see they are inching closer to playing on the same level as their ranked foes. They can see the progression and the growth of a team still finding its identity.
On Friday night the Nittany Lions found themselves down by three goals, only to battle back and tie the game. On Saturday night they led by three, only to see Union battle back and eventually take the contest. Penn State suffered setbacks in both games, but they walked away from both games a better team.
"I think after [the UMass Lowell series] we all realized we have a lot of potential," forward Eric Scheid said. "Then we came into this weekend and we proved that even more. Union is a top 20 program and we hung with them both nights and easily could have walked out of both those games with wins. We proved we have what it takes and it's just a matter of putting it all together."
Games like this weekend's series against Union have given Penn State confidence heading forward. Despite giving up five goals, freshman Eamon McAdam took another step forward and made some pivotal stops for the Nittany Lions.
The seven goals Guy Gadowsky's team scored against Union marked the most they have scored in a series dating back to February of 2013 when they scored eight against Alabama-Huntsville. The offensive and defensive production is coming along, and the Nittany Lions know the key is putting together a full 60 minutes.
"In Division I hockey you have a lot of very mentally tough individuals and very mentally tough teams," Gadowsky said. "Then you get into the Big Ten and you've got some incredibly mentally tough teams that are incredibly talented, as well. We'll have to grow up quickly.
"We have to understand that the type of game that we have to play to have success is not an easy game to play. It's a very mentally grueling game that we have to play. To have success, the commitment that you have to make is phenomenal."
It's a commitment that the players have made throughout this year. They battle for every 50-50 puck. They go into the boards and in front of the net with confidence and with each game it seems a new weapon emerged for the Nittany Lions.
Going forward, Penn State will continue to work towards putting it all together as they open Big Ten play. The conference has three teams ranked in USCHO's Top 20 poll, including Minnesota and Michigan at No. 1 and No. 3, respectively.
"We played a whole lot better [this weekend] than we did early in the year," Gadowsky said. "We played better than we had in some of our wins, but we still have a long way to go. It's not going to get any easier. I respect Union tremendously, they're a great team, but it's not getting any easier as we open Big Ten play."
The players aren't expecting the upper echelon of college hockey to take it easy on them and they know that they are going to have to step up their game as the Big Ten schedule opens next weekend.
"We are going to have to play a full 60 minutes," defensemen Luke Juha said. "I don't think we have played a full 60 minute game yet and to beat teams like Union and Wisconsin or Michigan and Minnesota we're going to have to really put in a full effort and have everybody pulling the same way."
Penn State is still looking for continuity on their lines, as well. That has been the focal point of the team's practices and will be the focal point moving forward. The Nittany Lions have cut back on the penalties they're taking and they've started to click on the power play, as well.
Before opening Big Ten play and throughout the remainder of the schedule, Penn State is going to need to continue to grow all areas of their game and will look to do so when they travel to take on No. 17 Wisconsin this weekend.
It will mark the third straight series against a ranked opponent for the Nittany Lions and they know what they have to do in order to be successful.
"We're just need to relax and clear our heads and then get back to work on Tuesday," Scheid said. "The best athletes have the shortest memories, so we're just going to have to forget this weekend. We will take away some of the positives but we have to be ready to go on Friday because it's only going to get tougher from here on out."