Nov. 5, 2015
| PENN STATE vs. MERCYHURST | |
| Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m./Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. | |
| Pegula Ice Arena | University Park, Pa. | |
| GAME DAY CENTRAL |
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Statistics: Penn State | Mercyhurst
Game Notes: Penn State | Mercyhurst
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State women's hockey team returns home for the final time for the 2015 calendar year. The Nittany Lions and the Mercyhurst Lakers take to the ice Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG
Live stats/video can be found on GoPSUsports.com for free.
PROMOTIONS
Saturday's game is a Family 4-Pack game. For $30, fans can purchase four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks.
Following Saturday's game, the Nittany Lions are hosting a post-game skate with the team.
While supplies last, students can receive a free Penn State hockey beanie each game.
PARKING ADVISORY
For Penn State Women's Ice Hockey game parking on Saturday: To avoid the congestion of Stadium West it is recommended that you park in East Parking Deck, Eisenhower Parking Deck or Orange-F or Orange-C parking lots. Parking in these lots would be free of charge. Jordan East would also be available for parking free of charge. Timing of your arrival is critical:
* If you are planning on arriving between 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. please use Curtin Road to get to East Parking Deck or Eisenhower Parking Deck.
* If you are planning on arriving between 12:15 and 1:30 p.m. please use Hastings Road to access Orange-F or Orange-C parking lots.
BAG POLICY
Fans are reminded that bags may be subject to search upon entrance to the Pegula Ice Arena.
SCOUTING THE LAKERS (2-5-1, 2-0-0)
The Lakers enter the weekend series following a sweep of conference opponent, RIT.
Mercyhurst opened the season with a record of 0-5-1 before notching its first two wins of the year. Four out of the five losses this season for Mercyhurst were of the one-goal fashion.
The Lakers first three opponents are currently ranked in both polls (Northeastern, Princeton and Quinnipiac).
Rachael Smith leads the Mercyhurst attack with 11 points (4g, 7a). Smith is tied for the team lead in goals and assists.
Sarah McDonnell has played the majority of time in net for the Lakers. On the year, she has played 285:08 minutes, made 72 saves and allowed 12 goals.
FOLLOW ALONG
Live stats/video can be found on GoPSUsports.com for free.
LAST SERIES RECAP
The Nittany Lions return home following a loss and tie in their conference opener against Lindenwood.
In the series-opener, Lindenwood used a four-goal third period to rally past the Nittany Lions, 5-2.
In Friday's game, Celine Whitlinger topped the all-time Penn State saves record of 1,801 and sophomore Remi Martin netted her first career goal as a Nittany Lion.
Behind a 35-save performance, Whitlinger and the Nittany Lions tied Lindenwood, 1-1, in the series finale.
Also in the game, Micayla Catanzariti skated in her 100th game as a Nittany Lion and lit the lamp for the sixth time in her career.
On the weekend, Whitlinger made 55 saves in net for the Blue and White.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Victoria Samuelsson ranks seventh in the CHA in freshman scoring with six points (6a).
Also, Hannah England is tied for 11th in CHA freshman scoring with three points (1g, 2a).
NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND
The Nittany Lions have only allowed five goals in the first twenty minutes of play, which is tied for the CHA lead.
DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE
Penn State has only allowed 24 goals on the year, which ranks third in the conference. Lindenwood and Syracuse lead the CHA with 23 goals allowed, but have played fewer games than Penn State.
The Nittany Lion penalty kill ranks 11th in the NCAA with a mark of 86.2 percent (25-29).
PLAYING SMART
Penn State is currently averaging 6.0 penalty minutes per game, which leads the CHA.
BACK-TO-BACK
For the first time in program history, the Nittany Lions tallied back-to-back shutouts against a Division I team. Penn State swept Union by a score of 3-0 in each game.
ON SPECIAL TEAMS
In the NCAA, the Nittany Lions rank 16th in power play conversion (19.2%) and they rank 11th in penalty kill percentage (86.2%).
SUTTON EXCELS ON THE POWER PLAY
Bella Sutton tallied her sixth career power play goal against No. 7/8 Boston University. The sophomore is tied for third all-time at Penn State in power play goals.
ALL-TIME SAVES RECORD
Celine Whitlinger captured the all-time Penn State women's hockey saves record Friday, Oct. 30, at Lindenwood. Nicole Paniccia held the previous Nittany Lion all-time saves record with 1,801.
100 GAMES
Two Nittany Lions have eclipsed the century mark in games played this season.
In the season-opener against Minnesota, Jill Holdcroft became the seventh Nittany Lion to skate in 100 career games and Micayla Catanzariti became the eighth Nittany Lion to post 100 games played on Oct. 31.
Laura Bowman, Sarah Nielsen and Amy Petersen are on track to become the next Nittany Lions to skate in 100 games. The trio of Minnesotans have played in 83 games each.
NITTANY LION ATTACK
Against No. 7/8 Boston University, the Nittany Lions scored five goals in a game for the tenth time in program history.
STARTING OUT FAST
On Oct. 9, 2015, against No. 7/8 BU, Laura Bowman scored 43 seconds into the game, which is three seconds shy of tying the program record for the fastest goal to start a game. The record, held by Bowman, was set on Oct. 26, 2013, against New Hampshire.
CHA HONORS
For the seventh time in her career, senior Celine Whitlinger received the College Hockey America Goaltender of the Week award. Whitlinger tallied 41 saves against the top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers.
For her performance against the Union Dutchwomen, Victoria Samuelsson was named the CHA Rookie of the Week. In the series, Samuelsson dished out two assists Saturday night and added one more in Sunday's game.
For the third time as a Nittany Lion, Whitlinger was named the CHA Goaltender for the Month for October. In the month of October, Whitlinger made 158 saves, tallied a goals against average of 1.66 and posted a save percentage of .940.
NCAA RANKINGS
Heading into the Mercyhurst series, Celine Whitlinger is ninth in save percentage (.940) and ranks 11th in goals against average (1.66).
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
The Penn State women's hockey team has been picked fourth in the College Hockey America (CHA) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office Sept. 21. The Nittany Lions received 12 points in the poll, four points shy of RIT.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Nittany Lions begin a 12-game road trip starting next weekend at Robert Morris. Robert Morris hosts Penn State Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14, at 3:05 p.m.