Women’s Hockey Improves to 3-0 With 2-1 Win Over SyracuseWomen’s Hockey Improves to 3-0 With 2-1 Win Over Syracuse
CRAIG HOUTZ,

Women’s Hockey Improves to 3-0 With 2-1 Win Over Syracuse

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – The Penn State women's hockey team used another sound all-around team performance and had two more goals scored by freshmen in Saturday's 2-1 win over Syracuse in a CHA matchup at Pegula Ice Arena.
 
The Nittany Lions (3-0-0, 3-0-0 CHA) extend their season-opening win streak to three games with the win and pick up their second win in the last three games against the Orange (1-3-0, 1-1-0 CHA).
 
Freshman Olivia Wallin netted her first career goal in the first period unassisted to tie the game at one for the Nittany Lions and fellow freshman Kiara Zanon scored her second of the year with time winding down in the second period to give Penn State the lead it would never give up.
 
Freshman goaltender Josie Bothun had another sound performance in goal with 21 saves to earn her third-straight win. The defensive corps of juniors Izzy Heminger and Jessica Adolfsson, sophomore Mallory Uihlein and freshman Lyndie Lobdell played an exceptional game as a group controlling the pace of play throughout.
 
Victoria Klimek scored the lone Syracuse goal in the first period and Allison Small stopped 39 shots in goal for the Orange.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first period featured a fast pace with both teams generating a handful of quality scoring changes. It was Syracuse managing to score first after Victoria Klimek scored on breakaway with a nice backhand shot at the 8:22 mark in the first.
 
The even play in the first period ended up playing out on the scoreboard as well as Penn State managed to tie the game with 2:16 remaining. Wallin stole the puck with a nice stick lift and then snuck a low shot between the legs of Small to tie the game 1-1 before the break.
 



Despite a few power-play chances in the second period, the score remained at a stalemate until a great play by the Nittany Lions with time winding down in the frame. Lyndie Lobdell dove to clear the puck in the defensive end and it chipped out to center where Zanon swooped in to start a 2-on-1 rush with Natalie Heising.
 
Zanon elected to hold and shoot the puck to the low right corner and it resulted in the go-ahead goal for the Nittany Lions with 7.1 seconds remaining in the period. Penn State took its first lead of the game entering the second break.
 



Penn State maintained a steady control of the game in the third period by keeping out of the penalty box and keeping the puck in Syracuse's defensive zone. The Orange were held to just five shots on goal in the third period compared to Penn State's 14, and SU wasn't able to generate many good chances, even with the pulled goaltender late in the third period.
 
HEAR IT FROM THEM
Head Coach Jeff Kampersal

  • On the strength of the d-corps: "Those four or five players work really well together. They break the puck out well, that's the biggest thing that they do is make that first good pass. They do a good job of hinging and using one another."
  • On the team's resilience: "When we went down one, there was no panic on the bench. They knew that we were off to good start. They knew that they were going to battle and hope to tie it and see how the game would progress. Overall, it's an even-keel group and a group that is starting to love each other."  

Junior defender Jessica Adolfsson

  • On the defense's performance: We're four great players. We're really mobile and there's a lot of great skill between us and I think we're coming along well as a group. We feed off of each other and keep the pace of the game going, but can play like shutdown defensemen and regroup faster."

Freshman forward Olivia Wallin

  • On her first career goal: Honestly, I was trying to raise the puck. I hit the girl's stick and it wobbled through the goalie's legs and I was just happy it went in…I was really excited. I don't show it on the ice, but my teammates really hyped me up and I was just excited to score a goal for my first game. It's something you dream about in your junior years, so to have that in my first game is so special .

GAME NOTES & STATS

  • Penn State has won two of its last three games against Syracuse after going 1-25-5 in the previous all-time meetings before that.
  • Wallin becomes the third Nittany Lion freshman to net her first career goal in as many games for Penn State.
  • Penn State outshot Syracuse 41-22 for the game, including 14-2 and 14-5 advantages in the second and third periods.
  • As a traditional defender playing forward early this season, Rene Gangarosa led Penn State with eight shots on goal. Lobdell also chipped in six shots on net.
  • Bothun extends her program-record win streak to start a career to three-straight games. She is now 3-0 with a .970 save percentage and 0.67 GAA.

 
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions and Orange take each other on again Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena.