Oct. 16, 2014
| PENN STATE VS. UNION | |
| Fri., Oct. 17 (7 p.m.) // Sat., Oct. 18 (2 p.m.) | |
| Messa Rink (2,225) | Schenectady, N.Y. | |
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| Season Statistics: Penn State | Union |
| Game Notes: Penn State | Union |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania - The Penn State women's hockey team travels to Union this weekend for games against the Dutchwomen on Fri., Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 18 at 2 p.m.
The Nittany Lions will face Union for the fifth time in program history. Last season, Penn State split its series with the Dutchwomen, falling 2-1 in the series opener but rebounding in the second game with a 2-1 win.
Last weekend, Penn State went 0-1-1 against No. 8 Quinnipiac, falling in the first game, 3-0, but holding the Bobcats to a 1-1 tie to mark the first time in program history the Nittany Lions tied a ranked opponent.
SCOUTING THE DUTCHWOMEN
Union (1-3-0) is coming off of its first victory of the season, a 1-0 win over UConn, despite being outshot 28-11. Senior goaltender Shenae Lundberg set the program record for career shutouts (4) in the win. In its home opener against the Huskies, Union allowed 44 shots, including 21 in the first period, and three second period goals to lose 4-2. Four players have scored one goal, with Jessica Kaminsky's three points leading the team.
STRONG OPENING WEEKEND IN PEGULA
In its first showing of the 2014-15 season at Pegula Ice Arena, Penn State went 0-1-1 against No. 8 Quinnipiac on Oct. 11 and 12.
In the home opener, the Nittany Lions couldn't break through a stifling Quinnipiac defense, putting just 10 shots on goal in the 3-0 loss. Penn State had a solid presence in net, with junior Celine Whitlinger making 31 saves.
In the series finale, reigning CHA Rookie of the Week Hannah Ehresmann made 45 saves in the 1-1 tie. Sophomore Amy Petersen scored the game-tying goal, her second tally of the season, 3:10 into the third to mark the first time in program history the Nittany Lions tied or beat a ranked opponent.
GOALIES PROTECTING THEIR DEN
The goaltenders shined against Quinnipiac, holding the No. 8 Bobcats to four goals. Junior Celine Whitlinger made 31 saves in the first game and freshman Hannah Ehresmann made 45 saves in the second game.
HISTORY MADE AGAINST THE BOBCATS
The Nittany Lions made history in a 1-1 tie against No. 8 Quinnipiac on Oct. 12, becoming the first team to beat or tie a ranked opponent. Penn State has played five ranked teams. In 2012-13, Penn State faced No. 7 Mercyhurst, the Nittany Lions played No. 8 Mercyhurst and No. 9 Robert Morris in back-to-back series last season and this season, the Blue and White have played No. 1 Minnesota and No. 8 Quinnipiac.
YOXHEIMER LEADS IN MINNESOTA
Junior Shannon Yoxheimer, a team captain, led by example in the Nittany Lions' 3-2 win over St. Cloud State on Oct. 5. The forward scored a pair of goals, the fourth time in her career she's accomplished the feat.
EHRESMANN CHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Freshman Hannah Ehresmann was named the College Hockey America Rookie Of The Week on Oct. 6 after posting her first collegiate win against St. Cloud State. Ehresmann made 29 saves in the first appearance of her collegiate career, a 3-2 win over the Huskies. She posted a .935 save percentage in her first win.
LIONS OUTRUN HUSKIES TO WIN, 3-2
Behind Shannon Yoxheimer's fourth career two-goal game, the Penn State women's ice hockey team topped St. Cloud State, 3-2, in Minnesota's Ridder Arena on Oct. 4.
Yoxheimer, a team captain, led by example with a pair of unanswered goals en route to the 3-2 win. Minnetonka, Minn., native Amy Petersen also scored for the Nittany Lions.
At 16:46 in the opening frame, Penn State scored its first goal of the season, thanks to Petersen, for the 1-0 lead.
11:55 into the second period, Yoxheimer knotted the score at 2-2 on a powerplay.
In the third, Yoxheimer's stick continued to burn and at 6:27, she scored her second goal of the game thanks to an assist from Hannah Bramm, giving Penn State a 3-2 lead.
In her first collegiate appearance, Hannah Ehresmann made 29 saves for the win.
NITTANY LION OFFENSE RETURNS
Penn State has 80 percent of its scoring back from last year, which includes leading scorers Laura Bowman (10 goals), Shannon Yoxheimer (8), Amy Petersen (5) and Hannah
Hoenshell (5). Hoenshell led the team in assists (12) and points (17) last year.
O CAPTAIN(S)! MY CAPTAIN(S)!
Without a senior on the squad, three juniors and a sophomore have been called upon to be the leaders on and off the ice.
Shannon Yoxheimer, along with fellow junior Jordin Pardoski, will lead the Nittany Lions as captains. Pardoski, one of two current Nittany Lions to play in every varsity game, will lead from the blue line. Pardoski is Penn State's all-time leader in goals (6), assists (12) and points (18) by a defenseman.
Another Penn State blue liner, junior Sarah Wilkie, will be one of two alternate captains along with Laura Bowman. Wilkie, one of the strongest leaders in the locker room, is a tough-nosed, bright defenseman who played just 19 games last year due to a season-ending injury in mid-January. She will be a part of Penn State's forward lines this season.
I'M COMING HOME
Nine Nittany Lions hail from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and all traveled to Ridder Arena to face Minnesota and St. Cloud State. Eight of the nine Nittany Lions are from the Twin Cities area.
Laura Bowman (Minnetonka)
Hannah Ehresmann (Minnetonka)
Paige Jahnke (Oakville)
Sarah Nielsen (Edina)
Amy Petersen (Minnetonka)
Kendra Rasmussen (Sartell)
Caitlin Reilly (Chanhassen)
Bella Sutton (Shoreview)
Christi Vetter (Lakeville)
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State returns to Pegula Ice Arena next weekend to host Princeton on Oct. 26 and 27.