Jan. 22, 2015
| PENN STATE VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE | |
12-9-3, 7-4-1 CHA |
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| Fri., Jan. 23 (7 p.m.) // Sat., Jan. 24 (2 p.m.) | |
| Whittemore Center (6,501) | Durham, N.H. | |
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| Season Statistics: Penn State | New Hampshire |
| Game Notes: Penn State | New Hampshire |
| INSIDE THE NUMBERS | ||
| PSU | UNH | |
| 2.2 | Goals per Game | 1.5 |
| 527 | Shots | 578 |
| 22.0 | Shots per Game | 25.1 |
| .218 | Power Play | .091 |
| .813 | Penalty Kill | .796 |
| 2.42 | Goals Against Average | 3.20 |
| .925 | Save Percentage | .897 |
| 2 | Shutouts | 2 |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan. 22, 2015 - After three consecutive series in Pegula Ice Arena and sitting second in the College Hockey America (CHA) standings, the Nittany Lions (12-9-3, 7-4-1 CHA) hit the road for a pair of games at New Hampshire on Fri., Jan. 23 and Sat., Jan. 24.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats (6-16-1, 4-9-0 Hockey East) are coming off of a series sweep of their own after a pair of wins at UConn, the first time this season New Hampshire has strung together victories. Reigning Hockey East Co-Defensive Player of the Week Vilma Vaattovaara has been the Wildcats' go-to this year, posting a 5-13-1 overall record with a 3.07 goals against average and .901 save percentage. Jonna Curtis is the Wildcats' top point-getter, netting nine goals and six assists for 15 points. She is also New Hampshire's most offensive special teams player, scoring a pair each of power play and shorthanded goals.
STANDING TALL
In just its third varsity season, Penn State has made immense strides, posting its best campaign. Following their second-straight CHA series sweep, both of which came in Pegula Ice Arena, the Nittany Lions sit firmly in second place in the CHA standings, just two points behind Mercyhurst with two games on the Lakers. Penn State has increased its conference win total eight-fold from each of the previous two seasons with four weeks of CHA play to go. The 12 victories this year is also one more than 2012-13 and 2013-14 combined.
CONFERENCE'S BEST
Following Penn State's second-straight CHA series sweep this weekend, two Nittany Lions captured weekly conference honors. Bella Sutton (Shoreview, Minn.) earned Player of the Week accolades and Celine Whitlinger (Garden Grove, Calif.) captured her sixth CHA award. Sutton scored two goals, both of which were game-winners, added an assist and blocked a team-high nine shots to help the Nittany Lions sweep RIT this weekend. Whitlinger went 2-0 against RIT, allowing just two goals, posting a 1.00 goals against average and a .964 save percentage. Whitlinger improved her record to 8-5-0 and became the program's goaltender wins record holder with the victory in the weekend finale.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
In their third varsity season, the Nittany Lions are producing the best campaign in the program's young history. The 2014-15 team, which is unbeaten in at least one game nearly every weekend this season, has set Penn State's win (12) and shorthanded goal (3) records. The Nittany Lions have also captured a program-best 13 CHA weekly or monthly honors. Individually, Celine Whitlinger (Garden Grove, Calif.) has the most career and single season wins (8). Shannon Yoxheimer (Jackson, Mich.) now holds the season and career records for game-winning goals (4) and goals by a junior (9), while Laura Bowman (Minnetonka, Minn.) is the school's record holders for goals (12) by a sophomore. Bowman also holds the class points record (25).
POWER UP
The Nittany Lions' special teams have been just that this season: special. Their power play is the sixth-best in the nation, resulting in a goal 21 percent of the time (17-for-81). Hannah Bramm's (Tampa, Fla.) four goals leads the team and is tied for 15th nationally and third in the CHA. Bella Sutton (Shoreview, Minn.) has also been an integral part of Penn State's player advantage, recording the second-most power play points in the conference with eight (three goals, five assists).
THE PUCK STOPS HERE
A major reason for the Nittany Lions' success this season has been the play of its goaltenders, Celine Whitlinger (Garden Grove, Calif.) and Hannah Ehresmann (Minnetonka, Minn.). The Blue and White is the only team in the nation with two goaltenders among top-16 in save percentage; Whitlinger is ninth and Ehresmann is 16th. Penn State is also one of only three schools with two netminders among the top-20 in goals against average (North Dakota, Ohio State). Whitlinger is 14th at 2.16 and Ehresmann has the 19th-best goals against average nationally with a 2.40 mark.
HOME ICE ADVANTAGE
The Nittany Lions boast a 5-1-0 CHA record at home and a major cause is the Pegula Ice Arena crowd. Penn State sits ninth for attendance among Division I teams, welcoming an average attendance of 510 for its 12 home games, the second-most in the CHA. This season, the Nittany Lions hosted the third-largest crowd in program history for the weekend finale against No. 6 Mercyhurst (1,257).
WHAT AN HONOR
For their historic start to the season, the Nittany Lions have been rewarded generously with CHA awards. Celine Whitlinger (Garden Grove, Calif.) is the CHA's December Goaltender of the Month and a five-time Goaltender of the Week honoree, a conference-best. Hannah Ehresmann (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Caitlin Reilly (Chanhassen, Minn.) have both captured Rookie of the Week accolades, with Reilly earning a pair of Rookie of the Week honors. Laura Bowman (Minnetonka, Minn.), the December CHA Player of the Month, is a two-time Player of the Week pick, while Bella Sutton (Shoreview, Minn.) captured her first Player of the Week honor following the home RIT series.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State returns home to host CHA foe Syracuse on Fri., Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. and Sat., Jan. 31 at 2 p.m.