Dec. 8, 2012
VIDEO: Coach Gadowsky Postgame Comments | Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass. - Junior defenseman Nate Jensen (Shorewood, Minn.) brought the Nittany Lions to within two goals, but the Penn State men's hockey team dropped a 4-1 contest to Holy Cross Saturday evening at the Hart Center. The Nittany Lions fell to 6-7-0, while the Crusaders improved to 9-4-2.
Holy Cross notched a marker in each period before Jensen made it a 3-1 game with 4:48 remaining. The Crusaders then tallied an empty-netter to account for the 4-1 final. Sophomore netminder PJ Musico (Orange, Calif.) made 28 saves.
Penn State outshot Holy Cross by a 33-32 margin and went 0-for-4 on the power play. The Crusaders, who generated four 5-on-3 opportunities during the game, finished 2-for-10 with the man advantage. Derek Kump turned aside 32 shots for the Crusaders.
Holy Cross skated to a 1-0 lead at 6:24 of the opening period when Erik Vos' neutral-zone dump-in slipped through Musico's five-hole.
The Nittany Lion penalty kill then went to work as the Crusaders went on five power plays, including 1:47 of 5-on-3 action, in the final 6:58 of the frame. Holy Cross unleashed 10 shots with the man advantage, but Musico was up to the task as he turned aside each attempt.
With 1:25 carry-over time on its fifth power play, Holy Cross converted 25 seconds into the second period. Shayne Stockton's point shot was stopped by Musico, but Jake Youso found the rebound as the Crusaders took a 2-0 advantage. Joe McNamara also assisted on the goal.
Holy Cross recorded its second power-play tally with 11:12 remaining in the final frame. Musico gloved Kyle Fletcher's first attempt, but Rob Linsmayer netted the rebound.
Jensen made it 3-1 at 15:12 when he skated down the right-wing boards and fired a lot shot that went off the post and into the back of the net. Sophomore defenseman Peter Sweetland (Newtown, Pa.) registered the assist on the play.
With 29 seconds remaining, Adam Schmidt recorded an empty-netter as the Crusaders skated to the 4-1 victory.
The Nittany Lions will return to action Tuesday, Dec. 11 when they travel to Fredonia State for a 7 p.m. matchup.