UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – The Penn State women's hockey team battled back with a third period goal to tie CHA-leading Robert Morris 2-2 Saturday afternoon at Pegula Ice Arena.
The Nittany Lions had two power play goals scored by Jessica Adolfsson in the first period and Abby Welch in the third to tie the game.
Penn State's overall record moves to 10-12-6 and 4-8-2 in CHA play. Robert Morris's record now stands at 12-11-5 and 10-2-2 in the CHA.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Penn State drew the first penalty of the game and capitalized on the power play. Kelsey Crow and Izzy Heminger moved the puck from the wall to Adfolsson at the point. Her slapshot found its way through traffic and beat RMU's goaltender, Bailey, for the first goal of the game at 6:05.
- Robert Morris also had a power play try later in the period but managed only two shots on goal.
- Penn State blocked 10 total shots in the period, while Jenna Brenneman made 11 saves.
- Score after first period: Penn State 1, Robert Morris 0
- Shots on goal: Robert Morris 11, Penn State 6
Second Period
- The Nittany Lions had the puck in the offensive end a bit more in the second period and held a significant 22-11 edge in shot attempts.
- Robert Morris was the beneficiary of two power plays in the frame. The Nittany Lions successfully killed the first power play try, but the Colonials cashed in on their second chance.
- Amber Rennie scored on a redirect in front of the goal with assists to Emily Curlett and Jaycee Gebhard to tie the game at one at 14:23.
- Brooke Madsen and Anna Promersberger teamed up for three shots on one last rush with time winding down in the period, but Bailey made the stops to end the period with a 1-1 score.
- Score after two periods: Penn State 1, Robert Morris 1
- Shots on goal: Penn State 11, Robert Morris 5
Third Period
- Robert Morris took its first lead of the game at 1:04 in the third. Lexi Templeman scored her 10th of the season to five the Colonials a 2-1 edge.
- Penn State didn't need long to tie the game at two as they went to their second power play of the afternoon. Rene Gangarosa moved the puck down low where Sophie Slattery sent it in front of the net from beneath the goal line. Welch whacked the puck between Bailey's legs to knot the game, 2-2.
- Penn State had another power play try with just over two minutes remaining in the third, but RMU successfully stalled PSU for the first time on the advantage in the game.
- Score after three periods: Penn State 2, Robert Morris 2
- Shots on goal: Penn State 13, Robert Morris 4
Overtime
- Neither team managed prime scoring opportunities in the extra period. Jenna Brenneman stopped two shots while Bailey stopped three Nittany Lions tries on goal.
- Final Score: Penn State 2, Robert Morris 2
- Shots on goal: Penn State 3, Robert Morris 2
GAME NOTES
- Adolfsson now has three goals in her freshman season with all of them coming on shots from the point on the power play.
- Welch's score was her fourth of the season and the first on the advantage this season.
- This was the third time in the last eight games the Nittany Lions have scored multiple power play goals. It was also the first time Penn State has scored on the power play since Jan. 25 at Syracuse. The Nittany Lions now have scored two power play goals in a game five times this season.
- Brenneman made 20 saves in the game. She has made at least 20 saves in 20 of her 27 starts this season.
HEAR IT FROM THEM
Head Coach Jeff Kampersal
- "I thought we played much better and much smarter today. Yesterday was hopefully an anomaly… I thought the kids took ownership. Today they actually broke down their own video from yesterday. They came out with some good key areas to improve in today. One being the effort high in the zone, we did a better job with that. Pinning in the D zone, we did a better job with that."
- "Robert Morris is a really solid team, they're well coached. If anything from the last few games we know is that we can play with anybody in the country, and beat anybody in the country."
Abby Welch | F | Jr.
- Q: You guys scored two power play goals today. Is there anything you've been working on specifically in practice to improve your powerplay as of late?
- A: Yes. Honestly it's been a huge competition with powerplays. We have three powerplay units, and its been a huge competition to see who can score in practice. In a way I think that's the best thing for this team is competing against each other, but for each other. You're not necessarily competing against each other, but you're pushing one another to do better. In practices that's very important.
NEXT UP
- The Nittany Lions conclude their home schedule next weekend against another in-state rival, Mercyhurst, Feb. 15-16.