TROY, N.Y. – The Penn State women's hockey team finished their non-conference series with RPI 1-0-1 after tying the Engineers 1-1 in game two of the series Saturday afternoon at Houston Field House.
Nittany Lion sophomore Sophie Slattery scored her second goal in as many games in the first period. Fellow sophomore Natalie Heising had a game-high nine shots with eight on goal. Junior goaltender Jenna Brenneman finished with 15 saves for Penn State (5-7-2).
Blake Orosz netted RPI's goal in the second period assisted by Sabrina Repaci and Josefine Hansen. Lovisa Selander made 35 saves for the Engineers (4-6-3)
Penn State scored the game's first goal for the second-straight game in the opening period. After the puck took a wild bounce off the boards behind RPI's net, Slattery was first to the loose puck and put it past Selander at 7:22. The unassisted goal was Slattery's second of the weekend and the season.
The Nittany Lion defense was put to the test in the second period. First, Penn State successfully killed a 5-on-3 RPI power play for 1:46 in the first half of the frame. Shortly following, however, RPI found the back of the net for the first time in the series when Orosz scored her fourth of the season.
Follow the Engineer goal, RPI mustered a few more solid scoring chances, but Jenna Brenneman made several key saves to keep the game tied and finished with ten saves in the second.
Penn State came out in the third period and dominated possession but couldn't quite find the go-ahead score. The Nittany Lions held RPI to just one shot on goal in the third while mustering 11 shots on goal. Penn State's best chances came late in the period when Meike Meilleur hit a post as well as a couple of rebound chances in the final two minutes.
In overtime, the Nittany Lions came up with a couple of decent scoring chances but couldn't find the game-winning goal and both teams stood pat to force the 1-1 tie.
GAME NOTES
- The tie ends a two-game losing skid for the Nittany Lions in overtime this season (0-2-2).
- Penn State's non-conference record now sits at 5-3-2.
- The Nittany Lions road record stands at 4-3-1.
- Senior defenseman Kelsey Crow played in her 100th career game, becoming the 20th in Penn State history to do so. She is also the second Nittany Lion to hit the century mark this season (Meilleur).
- Crow led all skaters with four blocked shots
- Slattery finished the weekend with three points, her first points of the season.
- Brenneman has now allowed two or fewer goals in 10 of her 13 starts this season.
- Heising's eight shots on goal tied her season high (10/29 at Mercyhurst).
Penn State returns to action on a short week when it hosts conference opponent RIT Tuesday and Wednesday November 20-21 at Pegula Ice Arena. Tuesday's game starts at 6 p.m. and Wedesday's start is set for 3 p.m.