UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State women's hockey team went to overtime with Syracuse for the second-straight game and third time this season, but it was the Orange coming out on top 2-1 in the extra period in Saturday's thriller at Pegula Ice Arena.
The game took a similar script to Friday's 1-1 tie, with Penn State (14-9-4, 7-3-2 CHA) scoring in the third period thanks to forward Racheal Weiss (Calgary Alb.) to tie the game and it to overtime. But this time, Syracuse's Sarah Marchand netted the game winner in the OT period to give the Orange a boost to the top of the CHA standings.
"I felt like the intensity and the "umf" was there all the way through today," said head coach Jeff Kampersal. "It could have gone either way."
Penn State was on the offensive for the majority of the afternoon with a 55-21 shots on goal advantage. Syracuse goaltender Arielle DeSmet stopped 54 of the 55 shots sent her way by the Nittany Lions. Penn State goaltender Josie Bothun (Wyoming, Minn.) stalled 19 of the 21 shots she faced.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game started with Penn State dictating much of the action. At the midpoint of the opening frame Penn State led with 10 shots to Syracuse's three.
The Nittany Lions would earn their first power play of the day when Syracuse defender Mae Batherson was called for body checking Penn State forward Amy Dobson (Hamilton Ont.). The Nittany Lions power play had several chances but couldn't convert.
Batherson's minor wasn't the only power play of the period for the Nittany Lions as they earned another opportunity when Syracuse captain DiGirolamo would sit for slashing.
While Penn State couldn't convert on their two power play opportunities they left the period with a 19 to four shot advantage.
Syracuse started the second period on the man advantage after an Olivia Wallin (Oakville Ont.) roughing that took place after the first period horn sounded.
Syracuse scored on the ensuing power play. DiGirolamo sent a slap shot through a maze of bodies and past Bothun just 16 seconds into the period.
The middle of the second frame was highlighted by rushes both ways, however both Syracuse goaltender DeSmet and Bothun stood tall.
Penn State got their third power play of the day after a Syracuse high stick. After multiple opportunities Penn State still couldn't find the netting.
The Orange applied pressure late in the period but the Nittany Lions would survive thanks to multiple stops on the part of goaltender Bothun and blocks by defender Avery Mitchell (Pickering Ontario.)
Penn State ended the period with yet another power play, this time a slash by forward Victoria Klimek. Yet again would fail to convert.
The Nittany Lions entered the third period with a 35-16 shot advantage but they still weren't able to find that back of the net. Penn State came out of the intermission again on the attack doing everything they could to push the puck into the back of the net.
Midway through the final frame Penn State forwards entered into a scrum in front of the Syracuse net attempting to push the puck through a number of bodies, but after an official review they came up unsuccessful.
Finally on a trickling puck in the slot Penn State forward Weiss found an answer for the Syracuse net minder DeSmet and tied the game at one with 9:22 remaining in the third period.
With 3:54 left in the third period Penn State earned yet another power play. On their fifth power play of the night Penn State couldn't score.
The period ended with yet another Nittany Lion scrum in front of the net. DeSmet was successful in fending off the opposing shots.
The overtime period opened with several Penn State opportunities thanks to a good forechecking effort by Gangarossa and Natalie Hesising (Wyazata Minn.).
Penn State continued to attack thanks to Weiss's cannon of a shot but couldn't crack DeSmet.
Syracuse would finally amount to a rush of their own when Marchand pried a puck free in front of the Syracuse bench and started a two-on-one rush. She decided to shoo and went bar down past Bothun to win the game 2-1 for the Orange.
GAME NOTES
- Weiss scored her fourth goal of the season and her ninth point of the year.
- Penn State's 55 shots on goal were its most in a game this season. The Nittany Lions had 101 shots on goal for the weekend.
- Penn State women's hockey had their third largest attendance in program history with 1,437 fans. It was its largest attended game since 2018.
- Bothun and the Nittany Lions continue to be stellar at limiting opponents' goals. They have now had allowed two-or-less goals in 21 of 27 games this year.
NEXT UP
Penn State gears up for a three-game week, all in nonconference action. They will travel to Cornell Tuesday, Feb. 8th to play the Big Red before heading to Brooklyn to face LIU for the first time Friday and Saturday.