UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team triumphed in its second-straight one-goal game 3-2 against Lindenwood Saturday afternoon in College Hockey America action at Pegula Ice Arena.
Penn State (9-9-3) completed the two-game sweep to improve to a winning record in conference play at 4-3-1.
Lindenwood (2-14-3) remained winless in conference play at 0-8.
Penn State scored twice in the opening frame off the sticks of Shea Nelson and Natalie Heising and added a third score by Kate Rydland in the second period.
Chantal Burke impressed in goal with 33 saves, her fourth 30-save effort of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State established itself well in the first period with a pair of scores, one via a highlight-reel goal and the other on a pure effort play on the power play.
First, Brooke Madsen picked up an offensive zone dump from Rene Gangarosa and connected with the speeding Shea Nelson on a backdoor pass. Nelson ripped a wrist shot top shelf at 11:32 in the first.
NEVER GIVE UP! 😤 Natalie's tenacity and effort on the power play gave us a 2-goal lead before the first intermission!#SkateForTheCure💗 pic.twitter.com/dIDJAZj1Xu
— Penn State Women's Hockey (@PennStateWHKY) January 11, 2020
Then, on Penn State's third power-play chance of the period in the final minute of the period, Natalie Heising followed her own rebound to the opposite end of the cage and stuffed home the rebound to put the Nittany Lions ahead 2-0 with just 14 seconds remaining.
NEVER GIVE UP! 😤 Natalie's tenacity and effort on the power play gave us a 2-goal lead before the first intermission!#SkateForTheCure💗 pic.twitter.com/dIDJAZj1Xu
— Penn State Women's Hockey (@PennStateWHKY) January 11, 2020
Penn State had fend off Lindenwood's first power-play chance in the second period and then went back on the attack minutes later. This time, Kate Rydland's shot from the left point deflected off a Lindenwood defender and into the net for the senior's first goal of the year at 10:51.
Kate Rydland plays a mean pinball! That's the senior's first goal of the season! #SkateForTheCure💗 pic.twitter.com/oVNG6BSbnE
— Penn State Women's Hockey (@PennStateWHKY) January 11, 2020
Lindenwood managed to get one back at the 15:51 mark thanks to Kirsten Martin's first of the season and Penn State led by two once again heading to the second intermission.
With 5:35 remaining in the third period, Lindenwood's Megan Wagner appeared to have scored on a redirect, but the officials immediately ruled the play "no goal" due to a high stick by Wagner. Lindenwood challenged the play, but the call on the ice was confirmed, maintaining Penn State's 3-1 lead.
Lindenwood did cut the lead to one with 2:00 after pulling their goaltender for an extra skate. Megan Wagner stuffed home a rebound for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.
Lindenwood pulled their goaltender one more time in hopes of tying the game, but Penn State was able to hold off the attack, giving Penn State their second CHA series sweep of the season.
GAME NOTES
- Shea Nelson extended her career-best point streak to five games with her first period goal and has nine points in her last nine games.
- Heising's power play goal was her program-leading 17th power-play marker and she now has 41 career goals, tied for second in program history with Shannon Yoxheimer ('16).
- Rydland's sixth career goal was her first since Feb. 16, 2018 against RIT.
- Chantal Burke has at least 20 saves in 12 of her 16 starts.
- Penn State improved to 9-0-1 when scoring first and 8-0-2 when leading after two periods.
- The attendance for Penn State's annual Skate for the Cure game was 951, a season high for the Nittany Lions.
- Penn State will now play two road series at Mercyhurst Jan. 17-18 and at Syracuse Jan. 24-25 before returning home to Pegula Ice Arena Feb. 7-8 for a series against Robert Morris.