Natalie Boydston / Staff Photographer / nb397205@ohiou.edu

Ohio right wing Paul Warriner (6) competes for the puck against Penn State forward Michael Sulkes (10) and defenseman Tony Rossi (2) on Saturday. The Bobcats split the weekend series with the Icers, winning Friday, 4-1, and losing Saturday, 3-2. With Saturday’s victory, the Icers won the season series between the teams. This series victory could go a long way in deciding the final regular season ACHA rankings.

Jim Roach will not soon forget his team’s 3-2 loss to Penn State on Saturday. After a loss to their biggest rival at home, Roach said that this defeat hurts a little more.

“Losing in our own barn to Penn State really eats us up,” Roach, a Penn State transfer, said. “It hurts because we are a way grittier team. I’ll keep it in the back of my mind for sure.”

The Bobcats (27-8 American Collegiate Hockey Association, 18-4 Central States Collegiate Hockey League) were able to split the series, going 1-3 on the season against the Icers, with a 4-1 win Friday night.

Ohio jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Friday, with a controversial goal that was initially waived off by the referee; however, following a discussion among officials and the goal judge, center Justin Althof was awarded the goal.

The score stayed the same until a Brandon Hanley goal two minutes into the third period gave the Bobcats a two-goal cushion. Defenseman David Moyer added a slap-shot goal four minutes later to seal the Ohio victory.

“We have a set group that goes out after a penalty kill,” coach Dan Morris said. “It is a momentum swing where we take momentum from the penalty kill, and they take the lack of momentum from not scoring on a power play. We compound that by putting our best offensive players out right away.”

On Saturday, the Bobcats jumped out to another early 1-0 lead, but the Icers would respond with two goals to take a one-goal lead into the third period. Although the Bobcats had many power-play opportunities, they were unable to convert on their many chances.

“We have to make the most of our opportunities,” Morris said. “Give them credit; they executed when they had to, and we failed when we had to.”

Penn State notched a power-play goal late in the third period to take a 3-1 lead. Center Jim Fuhs’ goal would cut the lead to one, but the Bobcats were unable to tie the game.

The ACHA will release its final regular-season poll on Friday, and it is tough to determine where No. 3 Ohio will fall, having swept No. 1 Illinois and split with No. 2 Penn State since the most recent rankings were published.

Around the rink

The Bobcats finally have an answer to their questions about Jeff Jepson’s ineligibility.

According to a news release, ACHA commissioner Brian Moran ruled that Ohio will not have to forfeit any games that Jepson participated in, but that the forward will have to sit out the rest of the season.

QUICK STATS

OHIO 4, PENN STATE 1

Friday at Bird Arena

POINT LEADERS

(Ohio) Three tied with 2 PTS.

(PSU) Two tied with 1 PT.

SAVES

(Ohio) Chris Carlson 1 GA on 27 shots

(PSU) Chris Matteo 3 GA on 24 shots

PENN STATE 3, OHIO 2

Saturday at Bird Arena

POINT LEADERS

(Ohio) Five tied with 1 PT.

(PSU) Two tied with 2 PTS.

SAVES

(Ohio) Chris Carlson 3 GA on 25 shots

(PSU) Chris Matteo 2 GA on 26 shots

- Ohio lost its second game at home this season.