Feb. 27, 2015
0 Lindenwood (10-20-2, 7-11-1 CHA) |
Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) University Park, Pa. • Pegula Ice Arena • Attendance: 366 | 1 Penn State (16-15-4, 9-9-2 CHA) |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Feb. 27, 2015 - The 2014-15 campaign has been the best in Penn State women's hockey history and the team's debut in the first round of the College Hockey America (CHA) Tournament was no exception. The Nittany Lions shut out Lindenwood, 1-0, for the program's first CHA Tournament win on Friday.
"It feels really awesome because it's what we've been working for," junior captain and goal-scorer Shannon Yoxheimer (Jackson, Mich.) said. "It shows that we're getting so much better every single year and it's a big step for the program."
Celine Whitlinger (Garden Grove, Calif.) made 23 saves en route to her third shutout of the season, and Yoxheimer's first period power play goal was the eventual game-winner. Kelly Seward (Williamsville, N.Y.) and Amy Petersen (Minnetonka, Minn.) assisted on the tally.
The lone goal of the game was netted just eight-and-a-half minutes in. Shara Jasper was issued a tripping penalty and with 30 seconds gone, Petersen fed Seward the puck from the nearside boards. With Yoxheimer and Laura Bowman (Minnetonka, Minn.) crowding Nicole Hensley's crease, Seward, at the blueline, sent a rocket to the net, which Yoxheimer was able to tip in.
Throughout the contest, the Nittany Lions (16-15-4, 9-9-2 CHA) put themselves in the line of fire, blocking 14 shots to the Lady Lions' 10, and their shot blocking helped squander a Lindenwood (10-20-2, 7-11-1 CHA) opportunity to knot the score. Midway through the second period, Paige Jahnke (Oakdale, Minn.) was called for hooking and while on the penalty kill, Penn State blocked four Lindenwood shots, stifling any attempt to reach Whitlinger. On the day, Emily Laurenzi (Townsend, Del.) led the Blue and White with a trio of blocks.
"Shot blocking is a huge part of our culture," head coach Josh Brandwene said. "Emily is just a fabulous representative of that. She is fearless and gets in the way of pucks, whether it's even-strength or on the penalty kill, and she did an awesome job tonight."
Penn State was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning the puck drops 39-22. Hannah Bramm (Tampa, Fla.) was near-perfect with a 13-2 mark, and Laura Bowman (Minnetonka, Minn.) posted a 15-7 record.
The Nittany Lions were 1-for-5 with the player advantage, and the Lady Lions were 0-for-3.
Whitlinger improved her record to 11-10-1, notching her third shutout of the season. Hensley (10-16-2) turned away 22 shots for Lindenwood.
Penn State and Lindenwood play the second game in the best-of-three series tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Pegula Ice Arena. If the Nittany Lions win, they will advance to the CHA Tournament semifinal game at Mercyhurst on March 6.