UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team takes the ice in its home arena for a conference showdown the first time this season with its Friday-Saturday, Nov. 5-6, series against Lindenwood.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Penn State (6-4-2, 3-1-0 CHA) vs. Syracuse (4-5-2, 3-1-0 CHA)
Dates: Friday, Nov. 19 | Saturday, Nov. 20
Times: 7 p.m. | 3 p.m.
Place: Syracuse, N.Y. | Tennity Ice Pavilion
Live Stream: Games 1 & 2
Live Stats: Games 1 & 2
Game Notes: Penn State Game Notes
THE MATCHUP
Though Syracuse has historically gotten the better of Penn State in the all-time series, the Nittany Lions took the regular-season series for the first time last year with a 2-1-1 record (2-2-1 including the postseason). It was the first time the Nittany Lions won multiple games against the Orange in a season.
PSU and SU split at Syracuse Dec. 11-12, 2020, with the Nittany Lions rallying from two goals down in the third period to win 4-3 in overtime. Gough and Heising netted third-period goals to tie the game before Kiara Zanon took over in OT with a coast-to-coast highlight goal to win the game. Syracuse prevailed 4-2 in game two despite two goals from Olivia Wallin.
In the latest matchup between both programs March 5, 2021 in the CHA Tournament, Penn State's comeback fell shy after SU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two periods. Wallin scored twice in the third to bring Penn State within one, but SU won the game 3-2 to advance to the CHA title game.
Syracuse holds a 28-4-7 all-time edge over Penn State dating back to 2012-13, but Penn State took the regular season series 2-1-1 last season, earning a split at Syracuse Dec. 11-12, 2020.
The matchup between Penn State and Syracuse pits two of the best coaches in the game against each other. SU's Paul Flanagan ranks fourth in D1 history with 423 wins. PSU coach Jeff Kampersal is 6th with 385.
LAST TIME OUT: VS. LINDENWOOD
Penn State improved to 3-1 in conference play and 6-1-1 in its last eight games with a CHA series sweep of Lindenwood on home ice Nov. 5-6. PSU took game one in comeback fashion, 5-3, before dominating game two 4-1.
In game one Nov. 5, the Nittany Lions were trailing 2-0 entering the third period before erupting for three quick goals to begin the final frame from Julie Gough, Alyssa Machado, and Mallory Uihlein. Kiara Zanon added a shorthanded goal later in the third for the eventual game-winning score in a 5-3 win. .
In the second game, Penn State started much stronger with a first-period score from Rachel Weiss just 2:35 into the game. Anna Promersberger scored an even-strength marker and Gough tallied a power-play goal in the 4-1 win.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
61 - Senior forward Natalie Heising currently has 61 career goals, tied with Laura Bowman for the most in program history. Heising also now owns the program record for career points with 112.
7 - Junior forward Julie Gough is currently sporting a seven-game goal streak dating back to Oct. 9 vs. Holy Cross, tied for the longest streak in program history (Shannon Yoxheimer, 2012-13). She has seven goals and three assists during the stretch.
5 - Sophomore forward Kiara Zanon has five multipoint games this season, including a season-best 3-point game Nov. 6 vs. Lindenwood.
2 - Penn State has not allowed more than two goals in 10 of 12 games this season. Sophomore goaltender Josie Bothun leads the CHA with a 1.88 GAA with the most starts and games played in the league.
Get all of the latest updates on Penn State women's ice hockey by following @PennStateWHKY on Twitter, "liking" the Penn State Women's Ice Hockey page on Facebook, and following @pennstatewhky on Instagram.
