Feb. 22, 2018
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's hockey team (8-13-11, 5-6-7 CHA) hosts the Lindenwood Lions (9-18-1, 7-11-0 CHA) in the final regular season series for both teams this weekend at the Pegula Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, and Saturday, Feb. 24.
FOLLOW ALONG
Both games will be streamed on BTN2Go.com, but fans must have a BTN Plus account to access the stream. Fans can also follow along with live stats on GoPSUsports.com.
TICKET INFORMATION
Single game tickets for the 2017-18 season are five dollars each. 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.).
SATURDAY PROMOTIONS
- Senior Day, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association
- Family 4 Pack
- Book Drive - bring a book to donate and receive a $3 ticket
- Cubs Corner Kids Zone
- Cub Club Members FREE
LAST TIME OUT: RIT
The Nittany Lions are coming off a series sweep of RIT last weekend (Feb. 16-17) at the Pegula Ice Arena. Penn State captured a 4-1 victory in the opener before tallying a 2-0 win in the series finale.
With the series sweep last weekend, Penn State completed its first regular season sweep of a CHA opponent in program history.
In Penn State's 4-1 victory, freshman Natalie Heising recorded her second-straight game with two goals. Along with Heising, Sophie Slattery and Kate Rydland each tallied goals.
In the 2-0 shutout win for the Blue & White, Heising netted her third-straight game with a goal and Abby Welch scored her second goal of the year.
In net on the weekend, Hannah Ehresmann started both games, made 32 saves, tallied a save percentage of .970, and recorded a goals-against average of 0.50.
LOOKING AT LINDENWOOD
The Lindenwood Lions enter the series against Penn State with an overall record of 9-18-1 and a CHA record of 7-11-0. Last weekend, Lindenwood tallied a series split at home against Syracuse. Lindenwood captured a 1-0 win in the opener before Syracuse took the series finale, 5-4.
Offensively, six Lions have tallied at least 13 points on the year. For the Lions, Taylor Girard leads the team in goals (13) and points (24), while Courtney Ganske leads the team in assists (18).
In net this season for Lindenwood, Jolene deBruyn has started 24 of 28 games. For the Lions, deBruyn has a record of 8-14-1, has two solo shutouts to her name, has a save percentage of .922, has a goals-against average of 2.63, and has made 725 saves.
SERIES HISTORY VS. LINDENWOOD
Penn State leads the all-time series against Lindenwood, 11-10-3.
Last month (Jan. 12-13), Penn State defeated Lindenwood, 3-1, before Lindenwood topped Penn State, 4-1.
Penn State is 4-1-1 against Lindenwood in the last six games between the two teams.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Heading into the regular season finale against Lindenwood, the duo of Natalie Heising and Katie Rankin have made their impact felt among the freshmen in the College Hockey America conference.
Among freshmen in the CHA, Heising is first in shots (112), goals (14), points (23), power play goals (eight), power play points (13), and is tied for first in power play assists (five).
Heising is also tied for third in assists (nine) and ranks fifth in faceoff wins (144).
Along with Heising, Rankin is first in faceoff wins (431), second in shots (84), sixth in points (15), tied for seventh in goals (seven), and is tied for sixth in assists (eight).
CHA STANDINGS
With only two conference games remaining for each team, Robert Morris leads the CHA standings with 27 points followed by Mercyhurst (25) and Syracuse (23).
Penn State is fourth in the league standings with 17 points, Lindenwood is fifth with 14 points, and RIT is sixth with two points.
PLAYING EXTRA TIME
The Nittany Lions have played 15 overtime contests this season, which ties the NCAA record set by Boston U. (2009-10).
Penn State is 1-3-11 in overtime contests this season.
The Nittany Lions are also one tie away from tying the NCAA record for ties in a season (12 - Boston U. - 2009-10).
FIVE OVER THREE
Heading into the series against Lindenwood, freshman Natalie Heising has scored five goals over a three-game span.
With her five goals over three games, Heising became the first Nittany Lion to achieve that feat since Laura Bowman (Oct. 7-14, 2016).
SMART LIONS
Seven members of the Penn State women's hockey program were named All-American Scholars for the 2016-17 season, as announced by American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA).
Laura Bowman, Kelsey Crow, Katie McMillan, Amy Petersen, Kelly Seward, Bella Sutton, and Christi Vetter were among the 220 Division I-II student-athletes recognized by the AHCA.
NEXT UP
Penn State takes on Lindenwood in the first round of the CHA Tournament on March 1 with the time TBD. The CHA Tournament is held at the HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York.