Jan. 24, 2016
By Jack Milewski, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lions top line was every much that and more during their two-game series against Robert Morris University. The line accounted for four of Penn State's five goals in the series and elevated them to a win and a tie in their first home series since mid-November.
"They share a real similar high hockey IQ," head coach Josh Brandwene said. "They are fantastic at finding space on the ice, their timing works really well and they both not only have the verbal communication down but also the non-verbal as well."
In Penn State's overtime win on Friday, Hannah Bramm knotted the two regulation goals for the Nittany Lions. Amy Petersen assisted on both of Bramm's goals. Since becoming a part of the top line, Bramm's production has significantly increased on the offensive side of the puck and Brandwene says that she is a seamless fit on that line.
"She works really hard, she wins battles in the corners, she does a great job taking care of the puck in between both blue lines and the offensive spacing and chemistry are fantastic," Brandwene said.
Petersen, who has played with Laura Bowman for the majority of her Penn State career, feels that Bramm is the perfect addition to their line.
"Well Hannah has really good hockey sense, so that really makes it an easy transition for us because we know that she will be in the right spot," Petersen said. "We just read off each other and kind of know where we will be, I don't think there was much of an adjustment for any of us."
With the first line, Penn State's offensive display was impressive over the weekend. Despite the low goal output for both teams, the Nittany Lions, led by their top line, had numerous chances in both games and played arguably their most complete series of the season.
Sophomore defender Bella Sutton won the first game in overtime for Penn State after a hectic final period that saw multiple chances on both ends. Ultimately it was the Nittany Lions who came out on top, 3-2.
In game two it was much of the same from the top line as Bramm tallied once again to open the scoring with her eighth of the season. Petersen scored the other Penn State goal to give them a brief lead in the third period. The game finished in a 2-2 tie, but once again Brandwene was impressed by the Nittany Lions' overall play and especially from the top line.
"This weekend was almost 130 minutes of out and out war between two very competitive teams," Brandwene said. "The biggest thing is that they play in both zones. They take care of their defensive responsibilities and they play well offensively too."
Bramm seemed just as comfortable in the second game as she did the first and says that she feels very confident playing with Petersen and Bowman.
"It's been a lot of fun working with them and it's really been an easy transition," Bramm said. "I think the biggest thing that has helped is I've learned to have better spacing on that line and I think overall that is the biggest thing that helps us succeed."
Penn State will be right back in Pegula next weekend with a two-game series against RIT as the Nittany Lions and the top line will look to continue their strong in-conference play.