UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team couldn't find its offensive rhythm in its 3-0 loss to Mercyhurst Friday evening at Pegula Ice Arena.
Penn State (11-14-8, 6-8-5 CHA) dropped its first game since Feb. 15 at RIT in the loss.
Mercyhurst (19-9-5) improved to 13-3-3 in CHA play and maintain the top spot in the CHA standings with one game left to play in the regular season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercyhurst took the initial lead seven and a half minutes into the first period. Mercyhurst's Megan Korzack scored after her pass through the slot changed directions off the Penn State defense and went past Burke, giving the Lakers a 1-0 lead.
Penn State had two chances on the power play in the first period after the Lakers' goal but did not find the back of the net on either chance.
The second period did not have a goal but there were six penalties between the two teams with three infractions against both squads. Neither team managed to score on their ensuing power plays or the two extended four-on-four shifts in the frame.
Mercyhurst took advantage of a Penn State turnover at 5:39 in the third period to extend its lead to 2-0. The Lakers swept in a grabbed the loose puck in the Penn State end and worked it over to Emma Nuutinen whose shot went bar down and in for her 21st of the season.
The Lakers weren't done in the third period as they added another on the power play for the 3-0 lead. Alexa Vasko buried a rebound after a Nuutinen shot at 7:01 with a secondary assist from Maggie Knott to take the commanding lead.
GAME NOTES
- Earlier on Friday, RIT defeated Lindenwood 4-3 at home, which clinched the fifth seed in the CHA standings for the Tigers. Penn State is slated to play RIT in the first round of next week's CHA Tournament at the HarborCenter in Buffalo, N.Y. in the 4-5 matchup.
- Both teams combined to go 1-10 on the power play with Mercyhurst's goal in the third period being the only tally.
- Chantal Burke had 21 saves, marking her 23 start with 20 or more saves in the 2019-20 season.
- Natalie Heising, Katie Rankin, and Amy Dobson led Penn State with four shots on goal each.
NEXT UP
Penn State and Mercyhurst complete their regular seasons with Saturday's game at 3 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena. It is Senior Day and Penn State women's hockey will recognize its graduating senior class.
Saturday's game will feature several attractions in the Cubs Corner section in Pegula Ice Arena as well as the final postgame skate of the season with the team free to all with game admission. The first 500 fans will also receive a commemorative class of 2020 poster.
For the latest updates on Penn State women's ice hockey, follow @PennStateWHKY on Twitter, "like" the Penn State Women's Ice Hockey page on Facebook, and follow @pennstatewhky on Instagram.