Feb. 13, 2015
 2 Mercyhurst (21-7-3, 12-4-1 CHA) |
Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) Erie, Pa. • Mercyhurst Ice Center • Attendance: 512 |  2 Penn State (15-12-4, 9-6-2 CHA) |
ERIE, Pa.; Feb. 13, 2015 - Celine Whitlinger (Garden Grove, Calif.) turned out a 34-save performance but the Penn State women's hockey team was unable to break through a strong Mercyhurst defense, dropping a 2-0 College Hockey America (CHA) contest to the Lakers on Friday.
Penn State (15-12-4, 9-6-2 CHA) remains second in the CHA standings, now five points behind the conference-leading Lakers (21-7-3, 12-4-1 CHA).
Mercyhurst capitalized on a penalty kill to get the game's first score. The Lakers were called for too many skaters on the ice at 4:21, and 43 seconds later, Emily Janiga picked up the puck at her own blueline and pushed it up to Jenna Dingeldein. Dingeldein took off on a breakaway and flipped the puck top shelf for the 1-0 lead.
Mercyhurst tacked on another goal using its special teams with four-and-a-half minutes left in regulation. Hannah Bramm (Tampa, Fla.) was called for hooking and Shelby Bram's shot from close range deflected in five-hole for the final 2-0 score.
Sarah Nielsen (Edina, Minn.) put a team-best three shots on net, as Penn State recorded 11 total shots to the Lakers' 36. Whitlinger made 26 saves in the final 40 minutes of regulation, helping her to a 34-save total.
The Nittany Lions and Mercyhurst rematch Sat., Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. in Mercyhurst Ice Center.