ERIE, Pa. – Penn State freshman forward Loli Fidler scored twice, including her first career goal, but it wasn't enough as the Penn State women's hockey team fell 5-4 in overtime to Mercyhust at Mercyhurst Ice Center Saturday afternoon.
Both of Fidler's goals came in the second period. Penn State's additional goal scorers included Katie Rankin and Natalie Heising.
Mercyhurst's Emma Nuutinen had a hat trick which included a short-handed goal and the game-winner in overtime.
Chantal Burke made 24 saves in her first career start in goal. Mercyhurst's Sarah McDonnell stopped 32 Penn State shots.
Penn State played short-handed at three different points in the first period, and Mercyhurst was able to capitalize on its third power play. Maggie Knott scored on a rebound to give the Lakers the initial lead.
The Nittany Lions were able to tie the score at one just before the end of the period on their first power play of the afternoon. Katie Rankin scored her third goal of the season and second on the power play with just 22 seconds remaining in the first period. Loli Fidler and Natalie Heising had assists on the play.
Heising led an early offensive charge in the second period with back-to-back solid shifts. On her first shift, she rang a shot of the post and nearly put the Nittany Lions ahead. Penn State continued to work in the puck in the offensive zone until her next shift when she scored unassisted in front of the Mercyhurst net, giving Penn State a 2-1 lead.
Penn State added to its lead with the first career marker from Fidler at 11:59 in the second period. Fidler buried a loose puck with helpers from Katie McMillan and Kelsey Crow to give the Nittany Lions a 3-1 advantage.
Mercyhust took two penalties at once at 15:11 to give Penn State a 5-on-3 power play. Fidler notched her second of the game at 15:58 to extend the Nittany Lion lead to 4-1. Crow and Heising picked up assists on the goal.
From there, Mercyhurst rattled off four-straight goals to come out on top, starting with a short-handed goal from Nuutinen at 16:27. Sarah Hine followed by trimming the Penn State lead to 4-3 at 18:17 in the second.
Nuutinen scored the game's tying goal at 9:11 in the third period to put the game at 4-4 and eventually sent the game to overtime. In the extra period, Nuutinen capped off a hat trick with just five seconds remaining to win the game for the Lakers.
GAME NOTES
Penn State had a 36-29 advantage in shots on goal…Heising led Penn State with 11 shot attempts, including eight shots on goal, and tied Fidler for the team lead with three points…Fidler's three-point game was the first by a Nittany Lion freshman since Heising had a hat trick last season Feb. 24, 2018 against Lindenwood…Rankin went 18-7 in the face-off circle and registered seven shots on goal…Penn State scored twice on the power play (2-for-3) for the first time this season…It's the first time Penn State scored multiple power-play goals since Feb. 24, 2018 against Lindenwood (3-of-4)…Penn State returns home next weekend, Saturday and Sunday Nov. 3-4 to host CHA-foe Syracuse…Both games are set to start at 2 p.m.
