UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team gave No. 4 Cornell all it could handle in a 3-3 tie with the Big Red Tuesday evening at Pegula Ice Arena.
The Nittany Lions one of best all-around games of the season and were poised to defeat the highest-ranked opponent in program history. A late goal by Cornell with six seconds remaining in regulation forced overtime.
Penn State (8-9-4) had three different goal scorers in the game. Katie Rankin and Jessica Adolfsson each scored on the power play while Katie McMillan scored at even strength in the third period.
In her 11th-straight start in net, Jenne Brenneman made 24 saves for the Nittany Lions.
Cornell (8-1-5) had a pair of goals scored by Kristin O'Neill in the first and second periods. Maddie Mills tallied the Big Red's third goal with an extra attacker to send the game to overtime.
Marlene Boissonnault stopped 19 Penn State shots in goal for Cornell.
HEAR IT FROM COACH
Head Coach Jeff Kampersal
- "It was definitely a tough ending for sure but I am really proud of our group. I love their preparation, basically since they have come back [from break]."
- "We won the opening faceoff, we really focus and talk about that a lot, winning the opening faceoff getting the puck in deep and establishing that Penn State is here to play hockey. We did that and I thought 5-on-5 we did a really good job of controlling it, controlling the play.
- "That's a great hockey team that we played against but I thought maybe we deserved better…. But our kids kept fighting. We gave one up there at the end but it wasn't for a lack of effort, a lack of heart and everything. I am really proud of this group right now, we're in a good spot."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Cornell saw the bulk of offensive zone time through the first seven minutes. They registered the first four shots on goal before Penn State could get in the shot column.
- A Nittany Lion penalty contributed to the Big Red's opening zone time. Amanda McLeod served a two-minute tripping call at 16:49, but Penn State successfully killed the penalty.
- Penn State had a its first try on the power play at 13:06 but couldn't find a marquee scoring chance.
- Cornell netted the game's first goal at 16:26 in the first period on its second power play of the game. Kristin O'Neill got the marker with help from Maddie Mills and Jaime Bourbonnais.
- The Nittany Lions found a quick response when they also scored on their second power play at 18:56. Katie Rankin redirected a shot from Rene Gangarosa just beneath the crossbar. Shea Nelson also picked up an assist on the play.
Second Period
- After killing the final 1:43 of an Izzy Heminger penalty that carried over from the first period, Penn State went back to the advantage and found another power play marker at 4:48 in the frame to take the lead. Jessica Adolfsson's blast from the point ricocheted off a Cornell defender and into the net. Assists were awarded to Heminger and Natalie Heising.
- The Nittany Lions added to their lead on highlight reel goal from Katie McMillan. After Rankin pried the puck free on the boards, Adolffson sent it towards net where it directed off a Cornell stick and into the air. McMillan snatched it and threw it down to her blade and scored her sixth of the season at 13:40.
- A couple unfortunate penalties for the Nittany Lions plagued them late in the period. Anna Promersberger and Christi Vetter were sent to the box 45 seconds apart and Cornell capitalized on the 5-on-3. O'Neill scored her second of the game and 11th of the season after creeping into the slot area.
Third Period
- Penn State couldn't take advantage of two more power plays in the frame at 1:38 and 12:09 and finished 2-for-6 on the power play with 12 shots on goal.
- Brenneman made eight saves in the period, including one on a prime Cornell scoring chance with 3:36 reamaining.
- Cornell called timeout and pulled Boissonnault from goal with 1:42 on the clock.
- Rene Gangarosa was called for a cross check with 22 seconds remaining, putting Cornell on the 6-on-4 advantage.
- Maddie Mills chipped a loose puck in the slot into the goal with just six seconds remaining to force overtime.
Overtime
- Cornell outshot Penn State 4-0 in the extra period, but none of the Cornell shots were particularly threatening.
GAME NOTES
- Penn State scored two goals on the power play for the first time since 11/16/18 at RPI.
- Adolfsson's two-point effort was her first career multi-point game.
- Three of Rankin's four goals this season have come on the power play.
- Brenneman has now made 20 or more saves in six-straight appearances.
- Penn State will have another lay off , albeit briefer, before its next series against CHA-foe Lindenwood Jan. 20-21 at Pegula Ice Arena. Monday's game will be the Nittany Lions' annual Skate for the Cure game and will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network.