UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 8/9 Penn State women's hockey team enjoyed a record-breaking performance in their home finale to finish the season unbeaten at home with a 7-1 rout of RIT Wednesday evening at Pegula Ice Arena.
The Nittany Lions (13-1-2, 13-1-2 CHA) set a program record in a conference game with their seven scores. Freshman forward Kiara Zanon (Fairport, N.Y.) set a program high with six points in the game (1G, 5A) while senior forward Natalie Heising scored a career-best four points (2G, 2A).
Sophomore forward Julie Gough (Newcastle, Ontario) also pitched in a career night with two goals and three points. Additional Nittany Lion scores came from sophomore Rachel Weiss (Calgary, Alberta) and junior Izzy Heminger (Dublin, Ohio), both in the second period.
"Overall, I'm really proud of the group," said head coach Jeff Kampersal. "It's been a great time at home here. We become road warriors in a week or so, and we're looking forward to those opportunities as well."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State used another hot start thanks to another quick score from Gough to take the initial lead. After Rene Gangarosa (Rochester, N.Y.) worked the puck down below the goal line, Zanon made a pass to Gough in the slot who lifted the puck with a crafty shot into the net for the 1-0 PSU lead at 5:03 in the first period.
Weiss soon followed up to double the Penn State lead just over three minutes later at 8:22. A "d-to-d" pass from Jessica Adolfsson (Linkoping, Sweden) to Lyndie Lobdell (Aurora, Ill.) gave Lobdell room to rip the puck on net. Weiss was parked in front and got a piece of the shot to deflect it into the goal for her fourth goal of the season.
Penn State exploded in the second period with four scores, starting with Zanon's goal at 4:47. She tapped in a great feed from Heising just in front of the goal for her eighth of the season.
The Nittany Lions were on the penalty kill after that, but an RIT turnover set up Heising's first career shorthanded goal just a minute after Zanon scored. Zanon added a helper on the play.
Another Penn State goal, this time at even strength, gave Penn State the 5-0 lead at the 11:48 mark in the second. Heminger ripped a shot from the point for her second goal in as many days.
Gough tallied another score on the power play posting up in front of the net, finishing the play after a set up from Zanon and Heising for her first-career two-goal night. Penn State led 6-0 heading into the final period.
In the third, Heising scored a highlight-reel goal by maneuvering between the RIT defense and roofing her trademark wrist shot just under the cross bar for her fourth point of the night.
The Tigers managed to score on the power play with 1:57 left off the stick of Tori Haywood.
GAME NOTES AND STATS
- Of all the teams in the four women's hockey conferences that can earn an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, Penn State is the only team to complete their home schedule without a loss, posting a 9-0-1 record at Pegula Ice Arena.
- With 28 points and a .875 win percentage in conference play, Penn State sits firmly atop the CHA regular season standings with just four games remaining in the regular season.
- Penn State's 20-point night as a team ties the team's third-best single game output (Nov. 3, 2012 at Sacred Heart) and sets a new program high in conference play.
- The Nittany Lions' 3.31 goals-per game average is on pace to shatter Penn State's previous season high by over a goal per game (2.11, 2016-17) while its defense at 1.50 goals-allowed per game would also be a program best (1.81, 2015-16).
- Freshman goaltender Josie Bothun (Wyoming, Minn.) made 13 saves in the first two periods before fellow freshman Annie Spring (Winnetka, Ill.) made her debut in goal in the third period, stopping six of seven RIT shots.
NEXT UP
Penn State and RIT match up for a second-straight series in Rochester, N.Y., Feb. 19-20.