Feb. 9, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Tyler Feldman, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Sophomore forward Laura Bowman netted three goals and added an assist to lead Penn State (15-11-4, 9-5-2 CHA) to a weekend road split versus CHA conference foe Lindenwood (9-17-1, 6-9-1).
The Penn State women's hockey team traveled over 750 miles to faceoff against the Lions in their home of Wentzville, MO. In Friday's contest, the Blue and White triumphed, 3-2, but fell, 4-2, in Saturday's matinee.
"I'm proud of the comeback effort [Saturday]," said head coach Josh Brandwene. "They stuck with the game plan. They kept believing. It was a heck of a hockey game on both sides."
Laura Bowman and her top line mates Amy Petersen and Micayla Catanzariti are a big reason why Brandwene's team continues to excel, especially down the home stretch of the regular season.
"Everyday is an opportunity to get better regardless of the result from the game before," said Brandwene. "Our mindset has been the same. Looking forward to getting back to work."
Bowman was a part of all three goals in Friday's 3-2 victory.
The scoring opened up 44 seconds into the second period when Catanzariti used apples from Petersen and Bowman to put the Nittany Lions ahead, 1-0. Then Bowman put Penn State ahead by two goals while on the power play with 11:42 left in the second frame after Bella Sutton and Kelly Seward assisted on the score. Bowman tallied her second goal of the period with 2:36 left in the second frame to put the Blue and White up, 3-1. Petersen and Jeanette Bateman recorded the helpers on the eventual game-winning score.
Celine Whitlinger swatted away 29 Lindenwood shots to preserve the team's 15th win of the season, 11th when she's between the pipes.
"Really proud of [Celine Whitlinger]," said Brandwene. "Just continues to battle and give a great effort."
In Saturday afternoon's 4-2 defeat, Bowman managed to score yet again, her 16th goal of the season. Her line mates Petersen and Catanzariti tallied the assists.
"[Bowman] had herself a monster weekend," said Brandwene. "Just had her feet moving. Really good shot selection. Great vision. Really high compete level."
Junior forward Shannon Yoxheimer, who has been with the program since its inception, not only played in her 100th game donning the Blue and White over the weekend, but she also scored in Saturday's contest. Emily Laurenzi and Remi Martin recorded the assists on her goal.
"Everybody does a great job with their responsibilities," said Brandwene. "Amy had a heck of an outlet pass on our early goal in the third period, and we just gave a really good effort."
Penn State will complete its four-game road trip this upcoming weekend in northwest Pennsylvania with a two-game series against conference foe Mercyhurst.
Sitting in second place in the CHA conference standings behind Mercyhurst (20-7-3, 11-4-1 CHA), Penn State continues to pressure the first place Lakers. In fact, the Nittany Lions are an impressive 5-2-1 in their last eight games and have already beaten the Lakers twice this season.