Women's Hockey Reaches Four Games Unbeaten With 2-2 DrawWomen's Hockey Reaches Four Games Unbeaten With 2-2 Draw
Craig Houtz

Women's Hockey Reaches Four Games Unbeaten With 2-2 Draw

  Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Penn State women's hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to four games with a 2-2 tie in the final game of its nonconference series at Providence Saturday afternoon at Schneider Arena.
 
Penn State (3-2-3) scored back-to-back goals less than 30 seconds apart in the waning seconds of the first period from Brooke Madsen on the power play and Natalie Heising at even strength.
 
Goaltender Chantal Burke had another stellar outing in goal with 29 saves.
 
Providence (2-2-2) scored with 1:09 remaining in regulation to force the game to overtime.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Nittany Lions went from nearly scoring to being penalized to falling behind in the first period. Rachel Weiss rang a wrist shot off the crossbar and then was nabbed for a penalty seconds later. Late on the power play, the Friars managed to go ahead on a low, seeing-eye shot from Chloe Gonsalves at the 8:47 mark.

It looked as if Providence would take a one-goal advantage to the break, but a penalty with 34 seconds left in the first was all the fuel the Nittany Lions needed. Madsen redirected a shot from Mallory Uihlein just six seconds into the power play to tie the game 1-1.


The Nittany Lions weren't done scoring in the first period, however, as all five skaters on the ice touched the puck for Penn State and Natalie Heising finished the play with two seconds left on the clock. Penn State took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.


Despite no goals being scored in the second period, both teams had several good scoring chances that were nullified by great goaltending. Burke had 12 saves in the second period alone, including six on back-to-back Friars' power plays to preserve the Penn State lead.
 
It was more of the same in the third period with both defenses locking it down until Penn State had a chance on the power play with 4:20 to play. The Nittany Lions managed three shot attempts on the advantage but couldn't find the insurance goal.
 
At 18:01 in the third, the script flipped with Providence going to the power play which they used it to tie the game. With 1:09 remaining, Maureen Murphy wrapped a shot into the bottom corner to tie the game and send it to overtime.
 
The Nittany Lions had the best chance in the overtime period with a power play awarded to them with 1:15 to play, but their one shot on goal was stopped by Providence's goalie, Clare Minnerath.
 
 
GAME NOTES

  • Brooke Madsen scored in back-to-back games for the first time since March 1-2 at Lindenwood last season. Madsen has now scored five goals in her last ten games on the road. She also picked up a secondary assist on Heising's goal for her ninth-career multi-point game.
  • Natalie Heising now has four points (2G, 2A) in her last four games.
  • Penn State went 1-for-4 on its power plays and kept Providence scoreless on four-straight advantages before the Friars' goal late in the third.
  • Providence led the Nittany Lions in shots on goal, 31-17. Penn State won the battle in the face-off circle, 24-18.
  • Penn State leads the all-time series against Providence 2-1-1.
  • The Nittany Lions' four-game unbeaten streak is their first since Feb. 3-March 6, 2019 when Penn State also went 3-0-1, including a win in the CHA Tournament over RIT.
  • Penn State returns to Pegula Ice Arena next weekend to host Boston University Oct. 25-26. Friday's game is slated for 3 p.m. with Saturday's game set for 1 p.m.