Feb. 24, 2017
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's hockey team (9-19-5, 8-9-2 CHA) dropped a 5-1 decision to the Syracuse Orange (14-12-5, 13-4-2 CHA) in a College Hockey America (CHA) contest Friday evening at the Pegula Ice Arena.
"Obviously, it was a difficulty loss, you don't want to go out on Senior Night the way that we did," interim head coach Dean Jackson said. "Everyone in that locker room knows that we got better and it's a blessing we get to play again tomorrow, so fortunate for that."
After a scoreless first period of play, the Orange used a two-goal second period from Savannah Rennie to take a 2-0 lead into the second intermission. Rennie netted her first goal of the game at 5:33 and she then added to the lead with 1:55 left on the scoreboard in the middle frame.
The Nittany Lions opened up the third period on the penalty kill, but senior Amy Petersen (Minnetonka, Minn.) made it a one-goal game with her 14th goal of the season just 25 seconds into the third stanza. Petersen's short-handed goal Friday was her third of the year and the fourth of her career. On the Petersen tally, classmate Laura Bowman (Minnetonka, Minn.) recorded the primary assist for her program-record 32nd point this season. Along with Bowman, junior defenseman Bella Sutton (Shoreview, Minn.) picked up the secondary assist.
Leading 2-1, Syracuse added to its lead at 5:32 into the third period on a goal from Allie Munroe to make it a 3-1 contest. The Orange closed out the game with goals from Sarah Stuehr (9:40) and Stephanie Grossi (15:54) to secure the 5-1 victory.
In net, junior Hannah Ehresmann (Minnetonka, Minn.) recorded 24 saves for the Nittany Lions, while Abbey Miller made 16 saves for Syracuse.
The two teams close out the regular season Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. at the Pegula Ice Arena. Following Friday's game, the Nittany Lions will be the No. 4 seed in the upcoming 2017 CHA Tournament.
NOTES: Syracuse leads the all-time series against Penn State, 17-1-3...Syracuse outshot Penn State, 29-17...Penn State went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Syracuse went 0-for-3...Petersen recorded her eighth point over the past six games (3-5--8) on Friday...Bowman has recorded a career-best 32 points this season on 18 goals and 14 assists...Petersen has tallied a career-best 30 points this season on 14 goals and 16 assists...Sutton netted her 11th assist of the year Friday.