CLICK ON THE ABOVE PHOTO FOR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – No. 12 Penn State advances to its first-ever Frozen Four after sophomore Matthew DiMarsico (Wexford, Pa.) scored the overtime winner to lift the Nittany Lions past No. 7 UConn, 3-2, in the Allentown Regional Final at the PPL Center on Sunday evening.

Penn State will face Boston University in the second national semifinal at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.

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 NCAA Frozen Four for the first time in program hockey 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.