Jan. 5, 2017
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's hockey team (5-11-4, 4-3-1 CHA) returns home to the Pegula Ice Arena to close out its non-conference slate against Ohio State (8-10-2, 4-10-2 WCHA), Jan. 6-7. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. and 2 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow along with live stats via GoPSUsports.com. Both games this weekend will be streamed via BTN2Go.com, fans must have an account to access the video.
SATURDAY'S PROMOTIONS
- FREE post-game skate with the team for all fans in attendance
- Cubs Corner Kids Zone will feature a free balloon artist & free airbrush tattoos this game in addition to the hockey inflatable and other crafts and activities
- Scout Day -- scouts can get a ticket to the game and a patch for group tickets, call 1-800-NITTANY for details
- Family 4 Pack Game -- 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs & 4 soft drinks for just $30
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State heads to Happy Valley sporting an overall record of 8-10-2 and a record of 4-10-2 in WCHA play.
The Buckeyes enter the series after falling to No. 1 Wisconsin by scores of 7-0 & 5-0 on Dec. 9-10.
Offensively, the Buckeyes are led by sophomore forward Maddy Field, who leads the team in goals (six) and points (12). Underclassmen Jincy Dunne (2-7--9), Samantha Bouley (4-4--8) and Lauren Boyle (3-5--8) have also paced the Ohio State offense in 2016-17.
In net for the Scarlet and Gray, sophomore Kassidy Sauve has played all but 124:19 minutes on the year. Sauve has a save percentage of .946, a goals against average of 2.01, has recorded 626 saves and has four shutouts to her name. Her save percentage of .946 is third-best in the nation and she leads the country in saves with 626.
The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have one common opponent this season in Lindenwood. Ohio State topped Lindenwood, 4-0 and 3-0, in early November.
SERIES HISTORY VS. OHIO STATE
This weekend's series marks the fourth series between the two programs. The Buckeyes won the first five meetings in the series before Penn State captured a 3-2 win on Jan. 3, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio.
LAST TIME OUT: No. 8 QUINNIPIAC & PRINCETON
Penn State closed out the 2016 calendar year with a loss and a tie on the road at No. 8 Quinnipiac and Princeton. On the weekend, 12 Nittany Lions recorded at least one point and Victoria Samuelsson extended her point streak to a career-best four games.
A late goal in each game proved to be the difference in the weekend road trip.
In the 2-1 loss at No. 8 Quinnipiac, Samuelsson netted her first goal of the year on freshman Kate Rydland's first career assist. In net for the Nittany Lions, freshman Daniela Paniccia tallied a career-best 47-save performance, which included a game-high 19 saves in the third period. The Bobcats scored with 68 seconds left in regulation to secure the 2-1 victory.
On Saturday, Penn State and Princeton played to a 5-5 contest inside the Hobey Baker Rink. Offensively, freshman Brooke Madsen posted her first career two-goal game, sophomore Meike Meilleur netted her fifth goal of the season, Amy Petersen tied her career-best 11th goal of the season and Laura Bowman scored her team-leading 14th goal of the season.
Trailing 5-4 late in the third period, Princeton netted the game-tying goal with the extra attacker with 1:38 left in regulation. Junior netminder Hannah Ehresmann posted a 48-save performance.
CHA HONORS
On the year, five Nittany Lions have combined for nine weekly CHA awards and a pair of CHA monthly honors.
Senior Laura Bowman was named the CHA Player of the Week on Dec. 5 and garnered CHA Player of the Month honors for Sept./Oct.
Classmate Amy Petersen was named the CHA Player of the Week twice this season (Oct. 10 & Nov. 7).
Three Nittany Lion freshmen have been named CHA Rookie of the Week. Brooke Madsen (Oct. 10) Katie McMillan (Nov. 7) and Daniela Paniccia (Oct. 24) have received CHA Rookie of the Week honors this season.
Along with her CHA Rookie of the Week honors, Paniccia has been named the CHA Goalie of the Week three times (Oct. 31, Nov. 14 & Jan. 2) and the CHA Goalie of the Month for Sept./Oct.
ECLIPSING THE CENTURY MARK
Laura Bowman and Amy Petersen are both inching closer to becoming the first Nittany Lions in program history to eclipsing 100 career points. Bowman has 96 points on 57 goals and 39 assists, while Petersen has 91 points on 35 goals and 56 assists.
Junior defenseman Bella Sutton is six games shy of becoming the 13th Nittany Lion to skate in 100 career games.
HAT, HAT, HAT TRICK
The Nittany Lions have tallied three hat tricks during the 2016-17 season, which included a pair of hat tricks in an 8-1 win over Union on Oct. 7. The Nittany Lions are one of six teams to tally at three hat tricks on the year.
Individually, Laura Bowman has recorded two hat tricks (Oct. 7 - Union & Dec. 4 - Robert Morris) and Amy Petersen has one hat trick on the year (Oct. 7 - Union). Bowman is one of three individuals to tally at least two hat tricks this season.
AMONG THE BEST OF THE BEST
Laura Bowman is near the top in numerous national rankings. She is tied for fifth in goals (14), is tied for 37th in assists (11), is tied for 15th in points (14-11--25), is tied for fourth in shots on goal (98) and is third in faceoff wins (265).
Amy Petersen is tied for 15th in goals (11), is tied for 50th in assists (10), is tied for 23rd in points (11-10--21), is tied for fourth in short-handed goals (two) and is fourth in shot percentage (.233).
Brooke Madsen is tied for sixth among freshmen, and is tied for 37th, in assists (11).
Freshman goaltender Daniela Paniccia ranks 10th in save percentage (.928), is tied for seventh in shutouts (three) and she ranks 20th in goals against average (2.26). Paniccia leads freshmen goaltenders in goals against average, save percentage, shutouts and wins.
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
Compared to last season after 20 games, the Nittany Lions are +17 in goals for, +11 in power play goals and +52 in points.
Heading into the Ohio State series, the Nittany Lion offense is closing in on program-best numbers. On the year, the Nittany Lions have netted 134 points, 51 goals, 83 assists and 17 power play goals.
The Nittany Lions are currently recording program-best numbers in points per game (6.70), goals per game (2.55), assists per game (4.15) and shots per game (26.00).
The 2014-15 season featured the Nittany Lions tally program-best numbers in goals (72) and power play goals (22). The 2012-13 season featured Penn State post program-best numbers in points (174) and assists (105).
Senior Laura Bowman is closing in on breaking the program record in points and goals in a single season. Shannon Yoxheimer recorded 31 points (14-17--31) during 2012-13 and Bowman scored 17 goals in 2015-16. In 20 games played this season, Bowman has 25 points on 14 goals and 11 assists.
POUNCING EARLY
Penn State is 4-0-2 on the year when leading after the first period and 4-2-0 when leading after the second period. Penn State is 4-2-2 on the year when scoring first.
PETERSEN TO BOWMAN
During the 2016-17 season, Amy Petersen has assisted on six Laura Bowman goals. Last season, Petersen recorded an assist on 12 Bowman goals.
TOUGH SLATE
The Ohio State series marks eight-straight games for Penn State against a team that is ranked or receiving votes in the current USA Today poll. Over the past six games, Laura Bowman has five points (4-1--5), while sophomores Meike Meilleur (2-2--4) and Victoria Samuelsson (1-3--4) have each recorded four points.
Team - Current USA Today Ranking
St. Lawrence - T3
Quinnipiac - 8
Robert Morris - 9
Princeton - RV
Ohio State - RV
FUTURE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State women's hockey head coach Josh Brandwene announced the signing of six future Penn State student-athletes to National Letters of Intent Wednesday, Nov. 16. Natalie Heising (Maple Grove, Minn.), Cam Leonard (Cary, N.C.), Shea Nelson (Evanston, Ill.), Katie Rankin (Kanata, Ontario, Canada), Morgan Rolph (Mitchell, Ontario, Canada) and Sophie Slattery (Edina, Minn.) will be on campus for the 2017-18 season.
PRESEASON POLL
The Penn State women's hockey team was selected fourth in the CHA Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office Sept. 19.
2016-17 CAPTAINS
Laura Bowman was named the captain of the 2016-17 Nittany Lions, while Kelsey Crow and Amy Petersen were named alternate captains.
DYNAMIC DUO
Nittany Lion linemates Laura Bowman and Amy Petersen return to the Blue and White for their senior season in 2016-17. During their junior seasons, Bowman tallied 25 points (17g, 8a) and Petersen recorded a career-best 29 points (8g, 21a).
Last season, Petersen recorded an assist on 12 Bowman goals. Petersen closed out her junior year with 18 points over the final 16 games and Bowman ended the year with four-straight games with a goal.
2015-16 RECAP
The Nittany Lions finished the 2015-16 season with an overall record of 12-19-6 and a record of 6-8-6 in CHA play. Penn State finished third in CHA regular season standings, its best finish in program history.
Penn State tallied a record of 5-2-1 during the month of January last season.
In the first-ever meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Boston University Terriers, Penn State topped the No. 7/8 Terriers, 5-3, for its third win in program history over a ranked team.
In the all-time record books, Laura Bowman scored a single-season program-record 17 goals, she also tied a single-season program-best six power play goals scored and Amy Petersen recorded a single-season program-best 21 assists.
THE 2016-17 SLATE
The Nittany Lions will play 34 games over the course of the 2016-17 regular season, which includes 16 home games inside the Pegula Ice Arena.
The 2016-17 schedule features the 2014 NCAA champion Clarkson Golden Knights (Sept. 30-Oct. 1), the second-ever series against Boston University (Oct. 14-15), a home series against Ohio State (Jan. 6-7) and the Nittany Lions close out the regular season at home against Syracuse (Feb. 24-25).
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions return to CHA action with their first meeting of the season against Syracuse slated for Jan. 13-14 in Syracuse, N.Y. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. and 3 p.m. inside the Tennity Ice Pavilion.