Feb. 5, 2014
By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - "The people that needed to win today won today," said head coach Josh Brandwene after Saturday's Skate for the Cure game against RIT, "that's the children of THON, and Pink Zone."
Despite a valiant effort from the Penn State women's hockey team on Friday and Saturday, they came out of the weekend without a win. Friday's fast-paced performance earned the Blue and White a 2-2 tie while Saturday's emotional contest ended, 3-1, in favor of the Tigers.
"Certainly it wasn't the hockey result we were hoping for, but certainly a great result for two great causes," Brandwene said after Saturday's game. "I could not be more proud of the Penn State community today in their support. It warmed my heart to see that kind of support."
The two games marked the fourth and fifth games in an eight-day span for Penn State. That busy schedule included a road series at Syracuse and an away game at Princeton.
"We've expended a heck of a lot of energy these past eight days," Brandwene said.
Despite the physically trying schedule, players and coaches didn't use their fatigue as an excuse for coming up on the short end of the stick.
"Not making excuses--but after five games in eight days I think we were kind of tired," said freshman forward Laura Bowman. "We were looking for a spark in (Saturday's) game but couldn't find it until late in the third period."
The series was one of the best executed, competitively played and emotionally charged of the season for the Nittany Lions, who consider RIT a rival team. Crisp passes, fast skating and energetic play defined the weekend for Penn State.
"They are now doing the things they need to do to win a playoff series, and it's a matter of it becoming a habit and a consistent habit," Brandwene said.
The team's execution over all areas of the ice was in large part provoked by the energized, record-breaking crowd of nearly 1,800 fans on Saturday.
Many in attendance were dressed in pink or gold to support the causes of THON and Pink Zone as well as the Nittany Lions who donned pink jerseys with gold skate laces and gold stick tape.
"That was the largest crowd we've had and it was so amazing to play in front of that many people, Bowman said. "Our team really rides the waves of emotions and the fan base really helped us (on Saturday)."
Bowman notched the first goal of the game on Saturday on a laser that narrowly got by RIT goaltender Brooke Stoddart with only 13 seconds left in the period, creating an explosion of energy and emotion from the Penn State bench and the crowd.
"Whenever we score our team reacts so well to it," said senior goalie Nicole Paniccia.
Although Brandwene's squad was unable to match the three Tiger goals scored after Bowman's, the coaching staff was pleased with several facets of their game.
"It wasn't a matter of when we scored or when they scored, it was a matter of consistency," Brandwene said. "I was very happy with what I saw and how hard they fought throughout the weekend."
As the season approaches its end and the team gears up for the CHA tournament, weekends such as this one give the squad a new perspective on their skill sets and their ability to defeat a conference opponent.
"We match up well with RIT," Paniccia said. "Hopefully we get them again in the playoffs."
Six games remain on the regular season schedule, four of which are at home in Pegula Ice Arena and all of which are conference matchups.
All CHA teams qualify for the conference tournament, which begins with a three-game series on Feb. 28 at the higher seed. If the season were to end today, the Nittany Lions would head to Pittsburgh to take on Robert Morris in the first round.
Next up for Penn State is a home series against Lindenwood this weekend. Saturday (Feb. 8) and Sunday's (Feb. 9) puck drops are both set for noon.