ALLENTOWN
It might not be the location some party planners would choose, but Sunday evening’s Penn State hockey celebration appropriately convened on the ice at PPL Center after nearly four full periods of action and 13 seasons of anticipation.
Hockey sticks were strewn on the ice. Sweat-soaked players hugged coaches in coats and ties. Many in the crowd of 6,933 lingered to offer their support, loudly and repeatedly.
An overtime goal by sophomore forward Matt DiMarsico propelled Penn State past UConn, 3-2, and into the Frozen Four for the first time in program history — and it’s much more than 13 seasons if you include the years of club-level success and support that set the foundation for the varsity program.
DiMarsico found the net with just 2:04 remaining in the extra period, thanks to an assist from freshman linemate Charlie Cerrato. It was the latest bit of productivity for a line that has propelled a good portion of the team’s postseason success.
“He probably could’ve taken a shot, but he made a better play,” DiMarsico said. “It was a great pass, and I was just lucky enough to bury it.”
Penn State, which launched its varsity program for the 2012-13 season, will meet historic power and five-time national champion Boston University in a national semifinal on April 10 in St. Louis. Penn State’s roster features three NHL draft picks. Meanwhile Boston University will be making its 25th trip to the Frozen Four with a roster that includes 13 NHL draft picks.
In its last trip to Allentown for the NCAA Tournament, Penn State dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Michigan two years ago.
“It’s nice to be on the other side. UConn came back and had us on the run for the third period and a good portion of overtime,” Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said. “We’re just fortunate DiDi’s goal went in.”
Penn State’s balance and persistence helped extend what has become an improbable season of success. After a slow start to the campaign, including an 0-9 winless slog in Big Ten Conference play, the team has gone 16-4-4 and advanced farther than any team in the program’s comparatively brief history.
Four Big Ten teams made the field for the NCAA Tournament, but only Penn State has advanced to this point.
In many ways, the Allentown Regional championship game personified the team’s season-long grit and persistence.
Penn State never led until DiMarsico’s goal, but it never trailed by more than a goal and it invariably responded to challenges. While its speed set a tone early, UConn adjusted and controlled the later stages of the game — especially the third period.
UConn outshot Penn State 14-7 in that frame and 44-41 for the game. Most of the third period and a good portion of overtime was played in UConn’s offensive end. Only Penn State’s edge in faceoffs and some standout efforts by goalie Arsenii Sergeev kept the Nittany Lions alive.
Sergeev, who transferred to Penn State from UConn in the offseason, made 32 saves against his former team. He did not face many shots early (just six in the first period), but at times in the final couple periods was scrambling between the posts, snagging pucks, sprawling on the ice and, in one situation, slowly sitting back on the ice to trap a puck with his back after it had snuck between his legs but did not cross the goal mouth.
Along with DiMarsico’s game winner, Penn State got goals from Dane Dowiak and JJ Wiebusch. Both have been exceptionally productive during the postseason, including three goals apiece during the two-game regional.
UConn goalie Callum Tung was credited with 38 saves, after making 21 in the regional semifinals. The games were his first back-to-back efforts of the season, and he was clearly ready for the task. He endured Penn State’s offensive flurries early and stayed calm and patient during breaks in the action by kneeling between the goal circles and facing his net.
UConn, which fell just short of its Frozen Four, got its goals from Joey Muldowney and Tabor Heaslip. Heaslip’s goal was deflected and fluttered past Sergeev, who otherwise made some saves look spectacular but was steady.
“Arsenii played very well tonight. He played great,” UConn coach Mike Cavanaugh said. “But I thought our guy was equally as good. When you’re in these games and you have two teams playing well, it can come down to a bounce.”
Penn State survived the third period and much of overtime by embracing what it’s done best this season — and that’s not race up and down the ice or score goals. It was a matter of calmness and balance, fighting through tough spots and not panicking.
“We always believed we could get to this point,” said senior defenseman Simon Mack. “We just stay positive. Nothing changes for us.”
Things changed, though, in a big way. Thanks to their effort and that mentality, the program that some colleagues and observers told Gadowsky would struggle forever and never find success is on its way to the Frozen Four.
This story was originally published March 30, 2025 at 8:09 PM.
