UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Junior alternate captain Brandon Biro (Sherwood Park, Alberta) registered the game-winning goal as No. 16 Penn State defeated No. 17 Clarkson, 4-3, in non-conference action tonight at Pegula Ice Arena to open the 2018-19 regular season.
The Nittany Lions open the season 1-0-0 while the Golden Knights fall to 0-1-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless opening frame, Clarkson got on the board first early in the second period as Nico Sturm tipped one through senior goaltender Chris Funkey (Orland Park, Ill.) off a feed from Haralds Egle at 2:16 of the middle stanza.
- Penn State evened the score taking advantage of a 5-on-3 power-play midway through the second period as sophomore Sam Sternschein (Syosset, N.Y.) found the open side of the net off a great cross-ice feed from senior captain Chase Berger (St. Louis, Mo.) for the 1-1 score at 9:10.
- The third period started fast as the teams exchanged a pair of goals each in just 101 seconds started by a power-play tally by Nittany Lion junior Liam Folkes (Scarborough, Ontario) off a feed from Biro at the 1:31 mark of the final frame.
- The Golden Knights responded just 19 seconds later as Egle ripped one past Funkey for the 2-2 tie at 1:50, but junior Nate Sucese (Fairport, N.Y.) read the defense perfectly just 33 seconds later to intercept a pass and skate in on a breakaway beating Clarkson goaltender Jake Kielly through the five-hole at the 2:23 mark.
- The Golden Knights then answered on the power-play with a goal from Greg Moro for the 3-3 tie at the 3:12 mark of the third.
- Biro then found himself in the right place at the right time positioned right in front of the crease and he slapped home a bouncing puck off the shoulder of senior Ludvig Larsson (Malmo, Sweden) for the eventual game-winning goal and 4-3 score at the 11:01 mark.
GOALTENDING
In just his seventh career start, Funkey registered 23 saves to earn the victory and improve to 1-0-0 on the year. On the other end of the ice in his 74th career start, Kielly stopped 28 pucks and falls to 0-1-0 to begin the season.
NOTES
- Funkey becomes the fourth different Penn State net-minder to get the nod on opening night joining Matthew Skoff '16 (three starts), Eamon McAdam (one start) and junior Peyton Jones (two starts).
- Penn State improves to 4-2-1 all-time in season opening contests including a 3-0-1 mark in such games taking place at Pegula Ice Arena.
- Penn State held the 32-26 edge in shots on goal while going 2-for-3 on the power-play. Clarkson was 1-for-2 with the man-advantage.
- The Nittany Lions also held the 27-18 advantage in blocked shots with at least five players registering three or more led by junior Kris Myllari's (Kanata, Onatrio) five.
- With his third period short-handed goal, Nate Sucese now has three in his career to move into a tie with Dylan Richard '17 for fourth all-time.
- Both Sucese and Biro registered one goal and one assist each to record their 15th and 12th multi-point games, respectively.
- Larsson collected a pair of assists to register his first multi-point game as a member of the Nittany Lions and the 11th of his career.
COACHES CORNER
"I am really happy to come out with the win. I thought a huge part of it was the mentality of guys in terms of blocks. There was a huge block at the end obviously by [Brandon] Biro, but [Kris] Myllari had five or six and that was a great night for him."
"One of the reason we were so excited to get him [Ludvig Larsson] is what he can do in the faceoff circle, as you know we struggled in that area last year. He was great at 13-7, he was excellent. To your point of having a veteran presence, that's what he is. I thought he looked extremely mature in all areas, he's a player."
"Every really good team and really good program has at least one of him, at least. I think the value that Chris Funkey adds to this team and to this program is well beyond what you guys know. He's an excellent goaltender, he just didn't get the lead playing role and it's just the way things work out. Probably in another circumstance, he would have played a lot more. But I'll tell you what, in terms of value he adds to this program and this team, it is immense."
NEXT UP
Both teams return to Pegula Ice Arena tomorrow night to close out the season series with a 7 p.m. puck drop.