UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team saw its second-straight game head to overtime, but this time the No. 7/8 Boston College Eagles came out with the golden goal in the extra period to defeat the Nittany Lions 2-1 Thursday night.
Penn State (0-2-1) tied the game on a goal by junior Mallory Uihlein (Edina, Minn.) in the third period, but freshman Abby Newhook tapped in the game-winner on the goal line to give BC (1-0-0) the win 1:05 into OT.
"It was an exciting game for sure," said Penn State head coach Jeff Kampersal. "Obviously not the outcome that we wanted. We threw everything we had at them in the third period there and actually even in the second period, and I wouldn't say that we're necessarily jinxed, but at some point I thought [Mallory Uihlein]'s goal is such a fluke goal that that would open the floodgates for us. At some point, our scorers will score."
After an early goal in the second period for BC by Gaby Roy, Penn State dominated in the offensive end, outshooting the Eagles 24-12 in the second and third periods.
"Overall, just some of our habits needed to be just tightened up a little bit so instead of reaching for pucks, we go in and body for pucks and things like that. But overall, I'm super proud of them," said Kampersal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first period featured a lot of fun up-and-down action, but even better goaltending by both teams as both Bothun and BC netminder Abigail Levy each stopped 12 shots on goal in the frame.
Bothun made a big stop in front sliding from her left to right on a BC 2-on-1 rush to keep the score tied, but Levy stopped five shots on two Penn State power plays to keep the score blanked after one.
Penn State's sophomore goaltender made another great stop on a shorthanded chance by BC to begin the second period, but the Eagles kept on the attack to score the game's first goal. After a nice play to keep the puck in the zone at the blue line, Roy found space in front and scored on the backhand just 1:58 into the second period.
The Nittany Lions countered with a couple more golden scoring chances, including a breakaway by Kiara Zanon (Fairport, N.Y.) that was stopped by Levy. The puck squirmed free and Natalie Heising (Wayzata, Minn.) had a follow-up try at the puck, but the puck glanced off the crossbar and stayed out of the cage.
Penn State wound up outshooting 14-8 in the second period, but that elusive goal avoided them in the stanza, putting the Nittany Lions down 1-0 into the second intermission.
The Nittany Lions finally broke through in the third with 12:54 expired in the period. Uihlein threw a shot towards the net that bounced around and fluttered over the outstretched glove hand of Levy to tie the game.
In overtime, Penn State had a golden chance on a two-on-one with a shot on net that was stopped by Levy. The puck stalled in the crease as Zanon reached to bury it, but a great play by BC's Alexie Guay stopped Zanon's stick from scoring the goal and sprung the puck loose the other way.
On a two-on-one counter, Newhook passed to Kelly Browne who made a nice move around Bothun to push the puck to the goal line where Newhook tapped it in to win the game.
GAME NOTES AND STATS
- Penn State has outshot all three of its opponents this season despite its 0-2-1 record. The Nittany Lions have been great defensively, allowing just five goals.
- Bothun finished the game with 23 saves, including several great kick saves on quality BC scoring chances. Levy had 36 stops.
- Heising led all skaters with six shots on goal.
- BC won the faceoff battle 33-23.
- Neither team converted on a combined four power-play chances.
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions battle Boston College again Friday evening at 7 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena.