Feb. 23, 2017
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's hockey team (9-18-5, 8-8-2 CHA) hosts the Syracuse Orange (13-12-5, 12-4-2 CHA) for its 2016-17 regular season finale at the Pegula Ice Arena, Feb. 24-25. Friday's game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. live on the Big Ten Network, while Saturday's game is slated for 2 p.m. Following Friday's game the Penn State women's hockey team will honor its 2017 senior class.
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday's game will be live on the Big Ten Network and fans can follow along with live video on BTN2Go.com for both games, but must have an account to access the video. Live stats will be provided via GoPSUsports.com.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
FRIDAY
- Post-game Senior Ceremony presented by Penn State Alumni Association
- Pegula Ice Arena Figure Skaters performance at Intermission
SATURDAY
- Family 4 Pack - 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs & 4 soft drinks for $30
- Cub Club Game - Cub Club members receive free admission
TICKET INFORMATION
Fans can purchase single game tickets, group tickets, and Family 4 Pack deals by calling 1-800-NITTANY. All ticket purchases can be made over the phone (1-800-NITTANY) or by visiting the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.).
SCOUTING SYRACUSE
Syracuse enters the 2016-17 regular season finale with an overall record of 13-12-5 and a record of 12-4-2 in CHA action. The Orange trail Robert Morris by two points for the No. 1 spot in the CHA standings.
Offensively, Syracuse is led by junior Stephanie Grossi. Grossi leads the team in points (26) and goals (13) and ranks second in assists with 13.
In net for Syracuse, junior Abbey Miller has started 27 of 30 games this season. On the year, Miller has posted a goals against average of 1.70, has recorded a save percentage of .919 and has seven shutouts to her name.
As a team, Syracuse has allowed only 56 goals on the season, which is tops in the CHA and is tied for eighth-best in the nation.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SYRACUSE
Syracuse leads the all-time series against Penn State, 16-1-3. Back in January, the Orange defeated Penn State, 3-1 and 4-1, in Syracuse, N.Y.
Seniors Laura Bowman and Amy Petersen hold the program record for career points against Syracuse with 12 apiece. Bowman has tallied seven goals and five assists, while Petersen has recorded four goals and eight assists.
LAST TIME OUT: No. 8 ROBERT MORRIS
The Nittany Lions closed out their final road trip of the regular season with a series split at No. 8 Robert Morris, Feb. 17-18.
Penn State took the opener, 3-2, before No. 8 Robert Morris captured a 2-0 victory in the series finale.
In the series opener, the Nittany Lions tallied a 2-1 lead on a pair of goals from classmates Sarah Nielsen and Laura Bowman within a 29-second span in the first period.
Bowman's goal on Friday was the 18th of her senior season and Amy Petersen tallied her 100th career point with an assist on the Bowman tally.
Also in Friday's game, sophomore Meike Meilleur netted her eighth goal of the season.
On the weekend, netminder Hannah Ehresmann recorded 66 saves, which included 35 saves in the 3-2 victory.
CHA STANDINGS
With two games left in the regular season, Robert Morris leads the conference in points with 28, followed by Syracuse (26), Mercyhurst (19) and Penn State (18). RIT is currently in fifth-place with 10 points and Lindenwood is in sixth-place with seven points.
CHA TOURNAMENT INFO
Ticket information and times have officially been announced for the 2017 CHA Tournament.
The 2017 CHA Tournament is scheduled for March 2-4 inside the HARBORCENTER in Buffalo, N.Y. The top two seeds will receive a bye in the CHA First Round, while the No. 3 seed takes on the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed plays the No. 5 seed. The lowest remaining seed will play the No. 1 seed during the CHA semifinal round.
Tickets can officially be purchased online through the KeyBank Arena Box Office.
Full tournament packages are available for adults and are $25. Single-session tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students with a valid ID and children.
Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. each day with the second session of the first two days slated for 60 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
ECLIPSING THE CENTURY MARK
On Jan. 28, Laura Bowman recorded a two-assist performance to become the first Nittany Lion in program history to tally 100 career points.
Her second assist of the game came on an Amy Petersen goal during the third period of play. Bowman now has 61 goals and 42 assists to her name while donning the Blue & White.
At No. 8 Robert Morris on Feb. 17, Petersen became the second Nittany Lion to record 100 career points. Petersen tallied her 100th career point on an assist on a goal from Bowman in the first period of play. In her Nittany Lion career, Petersen has recorded 37 goals and 63 assists.
Also at No. 8 Robert Morris, Sutton became the 13th Nittany Lion in program history to skate in 100 career games.
AMONG THE BEST OF THE BEST
Among the nation's leaders heading into the weekend, Laura Bowman is tied for 13th in goals (18), is tied for 79th in assists (13), is tied for 27th in points (18-13--31), is seventh in shots on goal (157) and is fifth in faceoff wins (373).
Amy Petersen is tied for 40th in goals (13), is tied for 44th in assists (16), is tied for 38th in points (13-16--29), is tied for fifth in short-handed goals (two) and is eighth in shot percentage (.191).
Brooke Madsen is tied for 11th among freshmen, and is tied for 66th, in assists (14). She is also tied for 14th in points among freshmen with 20 (6-14--20).
As a team, the Nittany Lions are tied for 14th in the nation in power play goals scored with 21 and their power play percentage of 15.3 is tied for 14th in the nation.
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
Compared to last season after 32 games, the 2016-17 Nittany Lions are +17 in goals for, +9 in power play goals, and +46 in points.
On the year, the Nittany Lions have netted 185 points, 72 goals, 113 assists, and 21 power play goals.
With two games left in the regular season, Penn State has tied the program-record for goals in a season (72), set a program-record for points in a season (185) and assists in a season (113).
The Nittany Lions are currently recording program-best numbers in points per game (5.78), goals per game (2.25), assists per game (3.53), and shots per game (25.19).
The 2014-15 season featured the Nittany Lions tally program-best numbers in goals scored (72) and power play goals scored (22). The 2012-13 season featured Penn State post program-best numbers in points (174) and assists (105).
In 2016-17, Laura Bowman has set a program record in goals scored (18) and has tied the program record in points (31).
During the 2012-13 season, Shannon Yoxheimer tallied a program-record 31 points on 14 goals and 17 assists and then in 2014-15, Bowman netted 31 points on 16 goals and 15 assists.
In 30 games played this season, Bowman has 31 points on 18 goals and 13 assists.
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 eight teams to tally at least 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 11 individuals to tally at least two hat tricks this season.
CHA HONORS
On the year, six Nittany Lions have combined for 10 CHA weekly 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.
Following a pair of victories at Lindenwood, junior netminder Hannah Ehresmann was tabbed the CHA Goalie of the Week on Feb. 13.
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), Morgan Rolph (Mitchell, Ontario) and Sophie Slattery (Edina, Minn.) will be on campus for the 2017-18 season.
HEISING WINS GOLD
Incoming Nittany Lion Natalie Heising and the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team defeated Canada, 3-1, to capture its third-straight IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship on Jan. 14. Heising, a forward from Maple Grove, Minn., was named one of Team USA's three top players of the tournament.
BOWMAN FROM PETERSEN
During the 2016-17 season, Amy Petersen has assisted on nine Laura Bowman goals. Last season, Petersen recorded an assist on 12 Bowman goals.
NIELSEN NAMED HOCKEY HUMANITARIAN AWARD NOMINEE
Senior Sarah Nielsen has been nominated for the 2017 Hockey Humanitarian Award, as announced by the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation on Thursday, Jan. 19.
Nielsen is one of 15 student-athletes, and one of five female student-athletes, nominated for the award. She joins David Goodwin of the Penn State men's hockey program on the nominee list.
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.
NITTANY LIONS LIVE ON BTN
The Penn State women's hockey team will host Syracuse on Feb. 24 live on the Big Ten Network. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. inside the Pegula Ice Arena.
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 head to the HarborCenter in Buffalo, N.Y., for the 2017 CHA Tournament. Penn State will either be the No. 3 seed or the No. 4 seed and will take on either RIT or Lindenwood in the CHA First Round. The CHA First Round is scheduled for March 2 with the No. 3 seed taking on the No. 6 seed at 4 p.m. followed by the No. 4 seed playing the No. 5 seed 60 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.