Oct. 14, 2014 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Tyler Feldman, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Playing against some of the top programs in the country is nothing new for the Penn State women's hockey team. Such was the case this past weekend as the Nittany Lions (1-2-1) faced off against No. 8 Quinnipiac (2-0-1) this past weekend.
Despite dropping a competitive contest on Saturday night, the Blue and White rallied Sunday afternoon behind Hannah Ehresmann's 45 saves and Amy Petersen's game-tying goal to draw, 1-1.
"I'm really proud of this group for a total team effort as it relates to consistency and response," head coach Josh Brandwene said. "We had a great response when we faced adversity, and I saw a lot of growth for this hockey team that continues to evolve and get better every day."
Whereas Brandwene said his team played only 19 minutes of complete hockey in Saturday night's loss, the head coach refined his statement after Sunday's tie.
"It was a war out there against a good hockey club for 65 minutes," said Brandwene. "We made adjustments. Quinnipiac made adjustments. That's what high level hockey is all about, and I'm proud of them for the 65 minutes."
The two-game series against the Bobcats allowed the Blue and White to put their talented goaltenders on display for the passionate home crowd.
While junior Celine Whitlinger posted 31 saves in Saturday night's loss, freshman Hannah Ehresmann stopped 45 shots to preserve the tie.
"They work. They learn. They support each other. They have a great goaltending coach that works with them," said Brandwene. "I'm incredibly proud of their effort. I cannot say enough about Hannah Ehresmann's performance in goal. She was steady, poised, excellent job."
For freshman Ehresmann, being able to watch Whitlinger in net the game prior helped her perform at her highest level during Sunday's matinee.
"I definitely look up to Celine [Whitlinger], and I try to compete as well as she does," said Ehresmann. "We can both get better from watching each other, and I'm sure she feels the same way."
Offensively it was the line of Amy Petersen, Hannah Hoenshell and Laura Bowman that impressed. Together, the line combined for the lone goal of the weekend. Communication and synergy were key in the line's success, but all it took was a simple shot to the net to lead the Nittany Lions to a tie on Sunday.
"Remi [Martin] missed wide from the point, and I played the puck in the corner," said Petersen. "I saw Laura [Bowman] on the high slot, and I was actually trying to get a rebound out front for her by shooting off of the goalie's pads, and it just bounced of the side of her pad and dropped in."
Communication has been an area of focus for Brandwene and his squad, and Sunday afternoon was the height of such play thus far this season, especially among Petersen's line.
"They had themselves a heck of a hockey game," said Brandwene. "Really good spacing, really moving their feet well, playing well at both ends of the ice, they generated some good offense throughout, and they talked in the locker room about putting pucks on net from everywhere. And, when you put pucks on net, good things happen, so that's an outstanding performance by their line, and a great opportunistic goal by Amy [Petersen]."
A big reason why the line of Petersen, Hoenshell and Bowman performed at such a high level Sunday is because Petersen and Bowman have played together since the young age of five.
"It's definitely special," said Petersen. "It's not something many people can say they've done. We've been playing together since we were five. We've been on the same team every winter and every summer ever since. It's a lot of fun to play with her now in college."
Even more importantly, the talented line focuses on just having fun.
"Our line likes to have a lot of fun out there," said Petersen. "We try to stay loose and just work together. When we actually get one to go in, it's a lot of fun."
Next up for the Nittany Lions is a road trip against the Union Dutchwomen on Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18.