Women’s Hockey Scores Twice in the Third to Earn 2-2 TieWomen’s Hockey Scores Twice in the Third to Earn 2-2 Tie
CRAIG HOUTZ,

Women’s Hockey Scores Twice in the Third to Earn 2-2 Tie

UNVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – Trailing by two midway through the third period, the Penn State women's hockey team mustered back-to-back goals to force overtime in an eventual 2-2 tie with Syracuse Sunday afternoon at Pegula Ice Arena.
 
Penn State (3-0-1, 3-0-1 CHA) played its first 3-on-3 overtime period as it was implemented by the College Hockey America conference this season. The Nittany Lions nearly completed the comeback with a few good scoring chances in the extra period, but ultimately ended in a tie with the Orange (1-3-1, 1-1-1 CHA).
 
"I was really proud of the team today," said Penn State head coach Jeff Kampersal. "We started off strong and them we got into a little penalty trouble which hurt us. I thought 5-on-5 we had really good mojo, speed, whatever you want to call it. And then we regained that in the second and period when we went back to playing 5-on-5."
 
The game featured some spectacular goaltending from both Penn State freshman Josie Bothun and Syracuse senior Allison Small. Bothun stopped a season-high 35 shots while her counterpart made 44 saves.
 
Freshman Carrie Byrnes scored her second of the season to pull Penn State within one before junior Amy Dobson also netted her second of the year to tie the game 2-2 with 9:17 left in regulation.
 
"What's really cool about this group is they don't panic," said Kampersal. "They stuck to it, got the two to tie and had great chances in overtime, though Syracuse did as well. It was just a really good CHA hockey game with two good teams battling each other."
 
Syracuse senior Victoria Klimek scored both goals for the Orange in the first period and finished the weekend with all three of Syracuse's goals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first period, Bothun was tested early but made several quality saves to keep the Orange off the board. She had 18 saves in the first stanza alone.



Penn State found itself in penalty trouble throughout the period. On its second of four first-period power plays, Syracuse appeared to score a goal, but goaltender interference was called to take away the goal. The Orange would continue to pressure PSU for getting penalized though, and SU capitalized thanks to Kilmek's first score on a rebound at the 13:11 mark.

Klimek wasn't done there as she netted her second of the game on a 3-on-1 rush with 1:06 remaining in the period to give 'Cuse the 2-0 edge heading to the first break.
 
The Nittany Lions had five shots on goal on a pair of second-period power plays and outshot the Orange 13-5 overall in the second period, but Small made several great saves for 'Cuse to keep Penn State off the board and maintain SU's two-goal lead heading to the second intermission.
 
Small continued to be tough to solve for Penn State until the Nittany Lions finally broke through at the 8:33 mark in the third period. After a great redirect on goal by Julie Gough, Byrnes flicked a shot up and in off the rebound to pull PSU within one.
 



Just 2:10 later, the Nittany Lions found the tying goal after forcing a Syracuse turnover in their own end. Maeve Connolly poked the puck free at the blue line and Jess Ciarrocchi swooped in and found Dobson cutting to the goal. Dobson patiently chipped the puck up just under the crossbar for her second of the season to tie the game with 9:17 remaining.
 



The game ultimately went to overtime and the Nittany Lions had a few great scoring chances in the extra frame. Small made a great save with her helmet on Natalie Heising and stopped a pair of Julie Gough shots. Penn State's best chance was a Lyndie Lobdell breakaway, but her shot glanced off the crossbar.
 
Bothun also made a great save on a Syracuse breakaway in the frame to keep the game tied.
 
HEAR IT FROM THEM
Junior forward Amy Dobson

  • On her third period goal: "It felt amazing to score that goal. My two linemates made some great plays keeping the puck in and then Jess was able to slide that puck over to me with a great pass. To score that goal felt unreal to help the team because we felt we were sticking it to them in the second and third period."


GAME NOTES & STATS

  • Both teams generated four shots on goal in the overtime period. It was Penn State's first 3-on-3 overtime in conference play.
  • Natalie Heising led Penn State with seven shots on goal while Syracuse's Abby Moloughney had six shots.
  • Syracuse scored on one of its four power plays with 11 shots while Penn State went 0-5 with 12 shots.

 
NEXT UP
Penn State and Syracuse continue their season series with two more games against each other at Syracuse Dec. 11-12.