(Bensenville, Ill.)-Junior goalie Jimmy Merrow (Plainsboro, N.J.) had 51 saves in an outstanding performance but it wasn't enough as No. 15 SUNY Canton lost to No. 2 Penn State 7-3 in the opening round of the ACHA Division I National Championship at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Ill.

The Roos dropped to 19-12 overall and will play No. 16 Rutgers University in a consolation game on Sunday at 11 a.m. (CST).  Rutgers lost to top-seeded Lindenwood University 8-3 on Saturday.

Merrow was called on to make many terrific saves on Saturday as he kept the Roos in the game against the high-powered Penn State offense.  The five-time national champions used a pair of power play goals in the second period to catapult them to the next round.  Those goals came after SUNY Canton had surged ahead rallying twice in the first two periods from one-goal deficits.  

In the opening period, neither team was able to get on the board through the first 14 minutes as both Merrow and his counterpart, Edward Hume, stood tall between the pipes turning aside everything that came their way.  Both teams were also able to effectively kill off several penalties as the Roos went 0-2 on the power play and Penn State 0-1.

The Icers finally broke through Merrow, who had 13 saves in the first period, just seconds after a penalty against Corey Frizell (Orleans, Ontario) had expired.  Ryan Paradis carried the puck around the back of the Roos net and sent a nice centering pass to Marek Polider who put a quick shot past Merrow for a 1-0 lead with 5:28 left on the clock.

Penn State almost took a 2-0 lead a minute later when Chris Cerutti snuck out from the corner and Merrow had to dive across the crease to make a great save.

The Roos finally tied the score with 2:18 left in the period when Frizell gathered in the puck low in the right corner and slid a pass out to Jeremiah Hardin (Alpharetta, Ga.)who was camped out on the top of the right face-off circle.  Hardin snapped a high shot that beat Hume to tie the score at 1-1.

SUNY Canton had a great chance to take the lead just seconds into the second period when Darren Camp (Canton, N.Y.) found himself all alone against Hume but his shot was blocked by the Texas native.

Penn State took advantage and re-gained the lead less than 90 seconds into the period when Merrow, who hadn't given up a rebound out front in the first period, did so after a Penn State shot and Paradis knocked the puck in for a 2-1 lead.

The Roos clawed back and deadlocked the game again after Penn State was whistled for an interference penalty at the 3:41 mark.  Just nine seconds into the power play, Adam Fedor (Orleans, Ontario) took advantage of a rebound that Hume kicked out front and wristed a high shot into the net tying the game at 2-2.

Hume gave up another rebound at the 6:13 mark after Hardin threw a shot on goal and Brad Wilson (Ottawa, Ontario), the ECHL Rookie of the Year, slapped it in for the Roos first lead of the game, 3-2.  Rob Liggio (Canton, N.Y.)also assisted on that goal.

Wilson's tally seemed to fire up SUNY Canton as they delivered several big checks to the Icers over the next several minutes and kept up their offensive pressure and received more big saves from Merrow.

But with 8:40 left the Roos had the wind taken out of their sails when Penn State scored two quick power play goals to regain the lead for good.  Adam Levy (Penfield, N.Y)had been called for hooking and then Cory Bercume (Potsdam, N.Y.) earned a double-minor for roughing and a face mask giving the Icers a five-on-three advantage.  Penn State had one goal waved off but then Paradis and Nicolas Servavelli lit the lamp twice in a 34-second span making the score 4-3.

Penn State kept up the offensive momentum and in the waning minutes of the period scored again on a delayed penalty to make it 5-3.  Cerutti broke free for a breakaway and was hauled down from behind by Camp but still managed to score as the Roos were unable to touch the puck and end the play.

SUNY Canton generated a few good scoring chances in the third period but was just not able to catch up as Penn State popped in two more goals, one from Seravelli and another from Tim O'Brien for the final score.

Hume finished with 25 saves for Penn State, who will play the winner of No. 7 Oklahoma vs. No. 10 Central Oklahoma in the quarterfinals on Sunday.