UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – The Penn State women's hockey team earned a hard-fought point in the College Hockey America (CHA) standings with a 1-1 tie against Mercyhurst Friday evening at Pegula Ice Arena.
Katie McMillan scored the lone goal for Penn State in the second period. Jenna Brenneman was stellar in goal for Penn State with 25 saves, including stealing a few goals off the board from the Lakers with a handful of spectacular saves.
The tie marks the seventh of the season for the Nittany Lions (10-12-7, 4-8-3). The Lakers record moved to 12-12-4 overall (9-5-1 CHA).
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- The first period was largely uneventful on the offensive end for both teams. Though both teams each had a couple of power play chance in the period, neither were able to convert.
- Shots on goal in the period: Mercyhurst 7, Penn State 5
- Score after first: Penn State 0, Mercyhurst 0
Second Period
- The beginning of the second period showed more of the same defensive prowess from both teams, beginning with a pair of huge save by Brenneman. She stretched with her left pad and quickly covered the puck on what surely looked like a Mercyhurst goal just over 90 seconds in the period.
- A few minutes later, Mercyhurst's Emily Pinto sprung free for a breakaway chance, but Brenneman coolly slid to her right to make the save.
- Penn State had two more power plays in the second period but still couldn't find the go-ahead score.
- Mercyhurst eventually took the lead by capitalizing on the bad change by the Nittany Lions penalty-killing unit. Mercyhurst goaltender Kennedy Blair quickly forwarded the puck to Maggie Knott behind the defense who gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead at 16:31 in the period.
- With time winding down in the second, Penn State cycled the puck in the offensive zone before Shea Nelson swooped behind the net and centered the puck to McMillan. McMillan swung the puck around on the forehand to slide it past Blair to tie the game 1-1 with a little over 40 seconds left in the period.
- Shots on goal in the period: Mercyhurst 12, Penn State 10
- Score after second: Penn State 1, Mercyhurst 1
Third Period
- There wasn't much breathing room for either team in the third period, but the Lakers did hold a 20-12 shot attempt advantage for the frame.
- The Lakers went on the power play with 1:42 remaining the period, but Penn State locked it down with three huge blocked shots on the Mercyhurst advantage.
- Shots on goal in the period: Mercyhurst 7, Penn State 5
- Score after third: Penn State 1, Mercyhurst 1
Overtime
- Penn State killed the remaining 18 seconds of Mercyhurst's power play and the puck came right to Brooke Madsen out of the box for a good scoring chance, but Blair made the save for Mercyhurst.
- Shea Nelson had the Nittany Lions' other good scoring try in the extra frame. She weaved her way through the Mercyhurst defense and tried to stuff home the puck from just in front, but Blair held her ground to keep the puck out.
- Shots on goal in the period: Penn State 2, Mercyhurst 2
- Final Score: Penn State 1, Mercyhurst 1
GAME NOTES
- Katie McMillan continues her career season with her seventh goal of the year, more than her previous two seasons combined.
- Jenna Brenneman has now allowed two or fewer goals in 20-of-28 starts this season. She has also made 20 or more saves in 21 starts in 2018-19.
- Loli Fidler added a secondary assist on McMillan's goal and now has 10 points on the season to rank 5th among all CHA freshmen.
- Shea Nelson's assist was her sixth of the season as she continues to build on her career-high point total in 2018-19 with 10 points.
NEXT UP
- The Nittany Lions take on the Lakers tomorrow at 3 p.m. in their final home game of the season beginning at 3 p.m.