Feb. 17, 2017
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PITTSBURGH - Three Nittany Lions found the back of the net and junior goaltender Hannah Ehresmann (Minnetonka, Minn.) recorded a 35-save performance, as the Penn State women's hockey team topped the No. 8 Robert Morris Colonials, 3-2, in a College Hockey America (CHA) contest Friday night inside the 84 Lumber Arena.
With the win against the eighth-ranked, and the league-leading, Robert Morris Colonials (19-4-6, 12-3-2 CHA), the Nittany Lions improve to 9-17-5 (8-7-2 CHA), but more importantly keep pace with Mercyhurst (12-17-2, 8-8-1 CHA) in the CHA standings. With three games left in the regular season, Penn State is in third-place (18 points) in the CHA standings followed by Mercyhurst (17 points).
The Colonials took to the scoreboard first as Rikki Meilleur put Robert Morris up 1-0 at the 14:33 mark of the first period, but within 1:03 of play after the Meilleur goal, Penn State captured a 2-1 lead.
Senior Sarah Nielsen (Edina, Minn.) netted her second goal in the past three games to tie the game at one goal apiece at 15:07 and just 29 seconds later, classmate Laura Bowman (Minnetonka, Minn.) tallied her 18th goal of the season at 15:36. On Bowman's goal in the first period, Amy Petersen (Minnetonka, Minn.) was credited with the secondary assist for her 100th career point.
After recording 19 saves in the first period, Ehresmann made 10 saves in the second frame to keep the Nittany Lions in front, 2-1, heading into the final period of regulation.
The Nittany Lions then added to their lead at the 5:40 mark of the third period on sophomore Meike Meilleur's (Winnipeg, Manitoba) eighth goal of the season to make it a 3-1 contest in favor of Penn State. On the Meilleur goal, freshman Brooke Madsen (Eagan, Minn.) collected her 14th career assist.
No. 8 Robert Morris made it a one-goal game, as Jayce Gebhard scored with 7:07 left in regulation. With Robert Morris looking for the game-tying goal down the final 7:07 of regulation, Ehresmann recorded four saves to keep the Nittany Lion lead intact.
With 1:18 left in regulation, Robert Morris pulled goaltender Jessica Dodds in favor of an extra attacker, but the Colonials did not tally any shots on goal down the final stretch, which secured the 3-2 win for Penn State.
The two teams close out the regular season series Saturday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. inside the 84 Lumber Arena.
NOTES: Robert Morris leads the all-time series against Penn State, 13-4-2...Robert Morris outshot Penn State, 37-23...Both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play...Petersen became the second Nittany Lion to record 100 career points...Petersen has a four-game point streak (2-5--7)...Bella Sutton skated in her 99th career game...Penn State won its third-straight game...Penn State recorded its first victory against a ranked opponent this season and its fourth win against a ranked team in program history...The Nittany Lions improve to 8-0-2 when leading after the first period and 8-3-0 when leading after the second period...Penn State tied its program record for goals in a season with 72 on Friday.