ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team rallied late in the third period and nearly tied the game up but came up on the short end of a 2-1 loss to Mercyhurst at Mercyhurst Ice Center Friday afternoon.
The loss drops the Nittany Lions to 4-4-1 overall and 0-1-0 in College Hockey America (CHA). Mercyhurst improves to 4-5-0 and 4-1-0 in the CHA.
Penn State's lone goal was scored by Brooke Madsen with assists to Kelsey Crow and Loli Fidler in the third period.
Jenna Brenneman made a season-high 31 saves in her ninth-straight state to begin the season.
After a scoreless first period that featured a few scoring chances for both teams, Mercyhurst took the advantage early in the second period on Emma Nuutinen's goal at 2:48.
The Lakers added to their lead at 11:18 in the third period when K.K. Thiessen put Mercyhurst up 2-0.
Late in the third period, Fidler cleared the puck from the defensive zone and Crow pushed it ahead to Madsen. Madsen and Crow started a 2-on-1 breakaway and Madsen's shot beat Mercyhurst goalie Sarah McDonnell with just 2:11 remaining to bring the Nittany Lions back within one.
Brenneman went to the bench for an extra attacker just a few seconds after the ensuing face off and the Nittany Lions came up with a couple of solid scoring chances.
With just five seconds remaining, it looked as if Katie Rankin tied the game after she buried the loose puck during a crazy scramble in the goal crease, but referees reviewed the play and determined the Nittany Lions were offside entering the zone and waived the goal off.
GAME NOTES
Mercyhurst had the edge in shots 33-25…Penn State's penalty kill was a perfect 4-for-4…Madsen's goal was her third of the season…Fidler now has three assists in the last five games…Rankin won 21-of-31 face offs and helped the Nittany Lions win the face off battle 36-28….Mercyhurst now leads the all-time series 17-3-5…Both teams play again tomorrow at Mercyhurst Ice Center starting at 3 p.m.
