ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Penn State women's hockey team took down RIT thanks to a late goal by Katie Rankin in a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon at the Gene Polisseni Center.
Rankin's goal came with just 1:12 remaining in regulation. Natalie Heising had the other Nittany Lion goal in the first period.
Jenna Brenneman made 21 saves in her 30th start of the season in goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- The Nittany Lions wasted little time getting the board first with a score at 5:16 in the first period. Loli Fidler directed a hard shot-pass from the left wall through the center of the ice where Heising got a stick and redirected it into the net.
- Halfway through the period, Jenna Brenneman was elbowed in her crease and had to come off the ice. RIT's Logan Land received a five-minute major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct. The Nittany Lions did not end up scoring on the power play, but Brenneman was able to return to the ice.
- Penn State successfully killed RIT's first power play of the afternoon but the Tigers were able to tie the score shortly after the advantage expired. Kendall Cornine scored at 18:38 to tie the score 1-1 before the intermission. The Nittany Lions challenged the play for offsides but the goal call stood.
- Shots on goal in the period: Penn State 12, RIT 7
- Score after first period: Penn State 1, RIT 1
Second Period
- Penn State came up empty on an early power play in the period but did manage four shot attempts on the advantage.
- The Nittany Lions also held the Tigers scoreless on their lone power play chance in the frame.
- Penn State's best scoring opportunity came just after the expiration of Amy Dobson's penalty. She received a pass in the neutral zone and worked her way in on Lanteigne but the puck rolled off her stick at the last moment before she could get a shot away.
- Jenna Brenneman stopped all ten shots that came her way in the period.
- Shots on goal in the period: RIT 10, Penn State 9
- Score after second period: Penn State 1, RIT 1
Third Period
- The Nittany Lions opened a shooting gallery in the third period much in part to three power play chances in the period.
- Penn State came up empty on all three power plays, however, and finished 0-for-5 on the advantage on the afternoon.
- At 18:48, Katie Rankin circled towards the center of the ice from the right faceoff circle and threw a wristshot on net. She placed the shot perfectly in the upper left corner to give Penn State the 2-1 lead late. Sophie Slattery and Izzy Heminger each earned assists on the play.
- RIT did what it could to tie the game in the final minute, but a couple of sprawling saves by Brenneman kept the Tigers at bay just before the final horn.
- Shots on goal in the period: Penn State 17, RIT 5
- Final Score: Penn State 2, RIT 1
GAME NOTES
- Heising's 14th goal of the season continues to add to her team lead and she remains the lone Nittany Lion with double-digit goals this season. She is tied for second in the CHA and her 33 goals over the last two seasons is the most in the conference.
- Brenneman has now allowed two or fewer goals in 22 of her 30 starts, including her last four times out.
- Rankin's goal in the third period was her first even-strength goal since Oct. 6, 2018 against Merrimack. She is tied for second on the squad with seven goals.
- With Penn State ranked fifth in the CHA standings and RIT in the fourth spot, there is a good chance these two teams will face each other again in the first round of the CHA Tournament March 6 in Buffalo, N.Y. at the HarborCenter.
NEXT UP
- The Nittany Lions conclude the 2018-19 regular season with a trip to St. Charles, Missouri to visit Lindenwood March 1-2.