Sept. 29, 2014 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Tyler Feldman, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Recording an assist on the team's first goal of the season and scoring two unassisted goals at first glance may seem like an offensive upperclassmen's opening to the 2014-15 season.
However, it was freshman defenseman Bella Sutton who produced the previously described `dazzling performance' in her Penn State debut to lead the Nittany Lions to a 5-2 victory over Western in Friday's exhibition at Pegula Ice Arena.
"My teammates definitely rallied around me and gave me the confidence that I could step into the role of being that offensive defenseman when I could be," said Sutton. "It's really good to have their support. It's always been in my blood wanting to join the rush and take it when the opportunity presents itself."
The Shoreview native took advantage of a first period 5-on-4 power play to set up Laura Bowman with a beautiful pass en route to the very first Blue and White goal of the game.
It only makes sense that Bowman scored the first goal of the season. The sophomore assistant captain was named to the 2013-14 All-CHA Rookie Team after leading the Nittany Lions with ten goals last season.
Just three minutes after Bowman buried the biscuit, Sutton joined the offensive rush by following an odd ricochet off the boards behind the Western net to notch an unassisted goal on a slick wraparound to push the Nittany Lions ahead, 2-0.
Sutton wasn't done after just one period of play though. Rather she used a blistering snap shot from the slot to tally her second unassisted goal of the game to give Penn State a 3-1 lead with 12:13 remaining in the second period.
"I'm really, really proud of her," said junior captain Shannon Yoxheimer. "She played awesome. Her performance says a lot about her character because she is so hard working. She's a stay-home `D' when she needs to be and then when she can join the play she doesn't hesitate and good results happen."
Sutton chose Penn State due to its rich balance of academics and athletics, but it was her vision and footwork that led to head coach Josh Brandwene recruiting her to the Blue and White.
"She's a tremendous athlete and an even better teammate...She's a terrific two-way defender with great footwork," said head coach Josh Brandwene.
The Nittany Lions pulled away 3:25 into the third period when junior Hannah Hoenshell scored on a pass from freshman Irene Kiroplis to give Penn State a 4-2 advantage.
Penn State refused to slow down as Emily Laurenzi shot a crisp pass to junior line mate Micayla Catanzariti for a top-shelf beauty past the glove of Western's goalie to give the Blue and White a commanding 5-2 lead nearly nine minutes into the final period.
The Mustangs managed to muster two goals past Penn State junior goalie Celine Whitlinger in the second period, but it wasn't enough to skate by the well-orchestrated Nittany Lions.
Although Friday's game was an exhibition, a three-goal win to start this season shows just how progressive this program is under Brandwene.
"The mindset is to build and get better," said Brandwene. "This is an incredibly coachable group that is hungry to learn and get better."
Next up for the Nittany Lions will be a competitive weekend series October 3-4 in Minneapolis, Minn., where Penn State will faceoff against Minnesota on Friday and St. Cloud State on Saturday.
"When we get our opportunities on the power play we are going to have to get the puck to the net and take those chances because Minnesota is a very good team, and we know that when we get those opportunities we are going to have to capitalize," said Yoxheimer.