BUFFALO, New York – The Penn State women's hockey team was deadlocked in a tight battle in the CHA Semifinals attempting to avenge its playoff loss to Robert Morris from a season ago, but a goal early in the third period by the Colonials eliminated the Nittany Lions from the CHA Tournament in a 2-1 game at Key Bank Rink at the Harborcenter Thursday evening.
The Nittany Lions complete the 2018-19 season with a 13-14-9 record after reaching their second consecutive CHA Semifinal game.
Robert Morris (16-13-6) advances to the CHA Championship game to be played Friday, March 7.
The Nittany Lions played a strong first period but ended up falling behind 1-0 in the second period before Brooke Madsen tied the game on the power play shortly after.
Jenna Brenneman made 26 saves to keep the Nittany Lions' hopes of a comeback alive.
Amber Rennie and Sarah Quaranta each scored for the Colonials while Arielle DeSmet stopped 26 shots in the win for RMU.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- The Nittany Lions were awarded the first power play of the afternoon and managed a couple of decent attempts on goal but couldn't break the ice with the first score.
- Penn State did an excellent job of limiting RMU's time spent in the offensive zone. The Nittany Lions had five blocked shots in the period, including three by Kate Rydland.
- One of Penn State's best attempts of the period came on a dumped puck by the Nittany Lions. Natalie Heising won the race to the puck and it bounced back to her in front of the RMU goal, but Arielle DeSmet made the save.
- Jenna Brenneman also made a couple of nice stops for the Nittany Lions, including one when the puck squirted free from a crowd of players to an RMU stick in open space. Brenneman absorbed the shot and gave Penn State the chance to reset.
- Shots on goal: Penn State 12-5
- Score after period: Score tied 0-0
Second Period
- Robert Morris took little time taking the 1-0 lead in the second period with a goal just 37 seconds into the frame. The Colonials sprung lose on a 2-on-1 and Brenneman made the initial save but Amber Rennie deposited the rebound.
- Penn State went right back on the attack to tie the game after the Colonials took another penalty. Kelsey Crow fired a shot from the right circle and after DeSmet got a piece of it, Brooke Madsen put the rebound into the open cage at 5:41. Shea Nelson also had an assist on the goal.
- Brenneman came up big for the Nittany Lions as the Colonials had several good scoring chances in the period. She made 12 saves in the period.
- Madsen looked to have a one-on-one chance in the final minute of the period against the Colonials goaltender but the play was called dead on an offsides ruling.
- Shots on goal: Robert Morris 13-8
- Score after period: Score tied 1-1
Third Period
- As was the case in the second period, Robert Morris was able to score an early goal in the third to retake the lead. Sarah Quaranta scored on a spinning shot to put the Colonials ahead 2-1.
- Penn State had some decent chances to tie the game following Quaranta's goal. The first came when Meike Meilleur was hit in the neutral zone by a Colonials and put Penn State on the power play. The Nittany Lions had a handful of shot attempts but couldn't find the net for quality scoring chances.
- Penn State next best chance to tie the came with a little over two minutes remaining when the Colonials were given a bench minor for too many skaters on the ice. Brenneman was pulled for the extra attacker to make it a 6-on-4 for the Nittany Lions.
- The Nittany Lions flung pucks towards the net put couldn't' find the golden opportunity to tie the game. Robert Morris came up with a couple of successful clears to ice the game.
- Shots on goal: Robert Morris 10-7
- Final Score: Robert Morris wins 2-1
GAME NOTES
- Penn State completes the 2018-19 season with a 13-14-9 record while reaching their second consecutive CHA semifinal.
- Robert Morris led in shots on goal 28-27 for the game after the Nittany Lions got out to a 12-5 start after 20 minutes.
- Penn State converted on 1-of-5 power play chances with six shots on goal. The Nittany Lions also committed only one penalty and killed the Colonials' power play.
- Jenna Brenneman finished the afternoon with 26 saves, marking her 24th game with at least 20 saves this season. It was also the 25th time out of 34 starts for Brenneman in which she allowed two or less goals.
- Brooke Madsen finished the season with three goals and four points over the last four games played.