Oct. 27, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
Taylor Gross (Colorado Springs, Colo.) netted the Nittany Lions lone goal Sunday afternoon as Penn State fell to New Hampshire 3-1 in Pegula Ice Arena. All four of the game's tallies came in the second period with the final three coming in a 3:15 span near the end of the period.
Following a scoreless first period that saw each team kill off one penalty, Jess Ryan put the Wildcats on top with her first goal of the season 1:26 into the second period. The goal came just 16 seconds into the power play after New Hampshire won the faceoff in the offensive zone. Cassandra Vilgrain and Sara Carlson added the assists on the goal.
The Nittany Lions went back on the power play after Megan Armstrong took a holding penalty midway through the period, but could not capitalize on the player-advantage. After a hooking call put Penn State down a player 15:44 into the period, Ryan struck on the power play once again to put New Hampshire up 2-0.
Soon after, the Nittany Lions quickly found themselves on a five-on-three advantage after two quick tripping penalties against the Wildcats. Penn State wasted no time when Gross took a pass from Shannon Yoxheimer (Jackson, Mich.) and sent it past Ashley Wilkes who was making her first collegiate appearance. It was the third goal for Gross and team-leading fifth assist for Yoxheimer on the young season.
After New Hampshire killed off the remaining time on the second penalty, Arielle O'Neill notched her first goal of the game and third on the weekend doubling the Wildcats lead with 29 seconds left in the middle third.
With the game opened up at the end of the second period, both teams played a tighter third with each team recording 10 shots on net in the period. Penn State earned one more power play late in the game but were unable to put any of the four shots on the advantage past Wilkes.
Celine Whitlinger (Garden Grove, Calif.) brushed aside 32 shots in a losing effort that saw the Nittany Lions outshot, 35-18.
Penn State women's hockey returns to the ice Thursday night when they'll square off against Robert Morris at 7 p.m.