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Craig Houtz

Nittany Lions Top RPI For 2-0 Shutout Win


UNIVERSITY PARK Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team enjoyed its first win of the 2019-20 season Friday afternoon after a 2-0 shutout of RPI at Pegula Ice Arena.
 
Penn State (1-2-2) had a first period score from Natalie Heising followed by a key insurance goal from Amanda McLeod in the third period.
 
"It was nice to get a win, for sure," said head coach Jeff Kampersal. "Our players have worked really hard since Labor Day. The results didn't necessarily indicate the work they have put in, but they did a good job. Today wasn't the cleanest in terms of execution, but they battled."
 
Chantal Burke needed just nine saves to earn her first collegiate shutout much in thanks to a solid defensive effort from the Nittany Lions in front of her.
 
RPI dropped to 0-5-0 on the season after the loss. Ena Nystrom made 29 saves for the Engineers in goal.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Heising got the scoring in the first period after intercepting a pass between RPI's defensive pairing in the Engineers' zone. Her wrist shot went top right corner past Nystrom at the 16:24 mark.
 


 
"Natalie got us going with a nice start in the first period and we played a pretty solid game after that," said Kampersal.
 
Penn State also dominated the second period and outshot the Engineers 13-2 in the frame despite not having a goal to show for it.
 
In the third, the Nittany Lions committed the first penalty of the game at the 4:46 mark but were able to fend off the ensuing Engineer power play.
 
Soon after the power play ended, the Nittany Lions worked the puck into the offensive zone and Jessica Adolfsson blasted a shot from the blue line that Nystrom was able to get a piece of.
 
The puck trickled to McLeod who chipped it towards the goal and after a review, it was deemed the puck crossed the goal line for Penn State's second goal of the game.
 


 
The Nittany Lions had another critical penalty kill in the waning minutes of the game and didn't allow RPI any solid chances when Nystrom was pulled for the extra skater.
 
GAME NOTES

  • With her goal in the first period, Natalie Heising moved into fourth place on the program's all-time scoring list with 58 points.
  • McLeod celebrated her 21st birthday with her fourth-career goal and her first since Oct. 13, 2018 at Union.
  • Burke's shutout was the first for the Nittany Lions since Jan. 20, 2019 when Jenna Brenneman blanked Lindenwood for a 3-0 win.
  • Just five games into her sophomore season, Jessica Adolfsson is now tied with current sophomore teammate Izzy Heminger for sixth on the all-time defender scoring list with 13 points. Adolfsson led PSU with five shots on goal and three blocked shots.
  • Penn State out shot RPI 31-9 for the game. The Nittany Lions went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and did not get a chance on the power play.
  • The Nittany Lions and Engineers play the second game of their nonconference series tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Gallery: (10/11/2019) Women's Ice Hockey Shuts Out RPI 2-0