UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The No. 14 Penn State women's hockey team begins its 2022-23 season with a two-game nonconference series versus No. 2/3 Wisconsin at Pegula Ice Arena on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 22-23.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Dates: Thursday, Sept. 22 | Friday, Sept. 23
Times: 7 p.m. | 7 p.m.
Place: Pegula Ice Arena
Tickets: Ticketmaster
B1G+ Stream ($): Game 1 | Game 2
Live Stats: Game 1 & 2
Game Notes: Penn State Game Notes
Promotions: 800 Strong and Chicken Basket Giveaway
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
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This marks the first time the Nittany Lions will play Wisconsin in Pegula Ice Arena. Penn State is searching for its first win against the Badgers, as they hold the 2-0-0 record.
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It is the first matchup against Wisconsin since the 2019-20 season.
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This is the sixth time that Penn State will open their season against a nationally ranked opponent.
SCOUTING THE BADGERS
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The Badgers went 26-8-4 last season, earning a nonconference record of 8-2-1.
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Earned the No. 2 spot in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine National Poll and No. 3 per USCHO.com
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UW returns seven of its top-10 scorers from a season ago, including 55-point scorer Casey O'Brien.
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The Badgers lost starting goaltender Kennedy Blair but return Cami Kronish who made 10 appearances with three starts in 2021-22 registering a 2-1-0 record with a .961 save percentage.
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Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey was named WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year.
PRESEASON PRESTIGE
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Ranked No. 14 in the nation by USCHO.com. This is the second straight year that Penn State has earned a top-15 preseason ranking.
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Tied for the No. 14 spot in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine National Poll.
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Picked to finish first in the 2022-23 preseason coaches' poll as announced on Sept. 12. The Nittany Lions received four out of the four possible first place votes.
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Freshman forward Tessa Janecke was named Preseason Rookie of the Year.
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Junior forward Kiara Zanon, senior defenseman Mallory Uihlein, and junior goaltender Josie Bothun headline the coaches' Preseason All-CHA team.
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In an exhibition matchup versus conference opponent RIT, the Nittany Lions defeated the Tigers 3-0, with help from goal scorers Kiara Zanon, Tessa Janecke, and Izzy Heminger. Penn State goaltenders Josie Bothun, Annie Spring, and Katie DeSa combined for the shutout.
BLUELINE DOMINANCE
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Penn State returns five standout defensemen from the 2021-22 roster including Rene Gangarosa, Mallory Uihlein, Izzy Heminger, Lyndie Lobdell, and Karley Garcia.
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Gangarosa, Uihlein, Heminger, and Lobdell all hold spots on Penn State's all-time points by defensemen list.
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Uihlein earned her second All-CHA First team nomination after the 2021-22 season.
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Garcia was featured on the All-CHA Rookie team after a dominant first year with the Nittany Lions.
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In 33 games played last season, Lobdell secured the blue line and earned a +11 rating on the season.
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The Nittany Lions add freshmen Leah Stecker and Kendall Butze to their blueline for the upcoming season.
A-TO-ZANON
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Forward Kiara Zanon returns for her junior season as a captain for the Nittany Lions. She is a three-time All-CHA First Team honoree, who posted 39 points in 33 games last season.
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Zanon currently holds seventh place on the all-time goals scored list (23), is sixth in all-time points scored (69), and is tied for fifth in game-winning goals (6).
BRICK WALL BOTHUN
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Junior goaltender Josie Bothun set a school record with 18 wins and nine shutouts last season. After two years with the Nittany Lions, she has posted a 34-13-7 record and a .931 save percentage.
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After being named CHA Goaltender of the Year in 2020-21, Bothun followed that up with an HCA National Goaltender of the Year semifinalist nomination in 2021-22.
REPPIN' TEAM USA
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This offseason saw several Nittany Lions play for Team USA.
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Kiara Zanon and Tessa Janecke headlined the 2022 USA Collegiate Select Team with associate head coach Allison Coomey leading the way.
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Janecke also earned a spot on Team USA's U18 World Championship roster, scored six points (3G, 3A) throughout the tournament, and helped lead the squad to a silver medal.
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Zanon, also no stranger to international competition, has participated at multiple USA Hockey Women's National Festivals and played on two U18 World Championship teams.
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Coomey has held various positions with USA Hockey, including as a team scout with the USA National Team during the 2022 Beijing Olympics where they won the silver medal.
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Alongside Zanon and Janecke, junior goaltender Josie Bothun and senior defenseman Mallory Uihlein were invited to the 2022 USA Women's National Fesitval in Buffalo, N.Y. this past August.
PARKING
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Parking for Penn State Women's Ice Hockey games at Pegula Ice Arena will be available at the following locations beginning two hours prior to the start of each game:
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Stadium, West, Jordan East, Porter North
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No charge with a valid Penn State parking pass
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$5.50 prepaid through ParkMobile (season package availble for $5 per game): ParkMobile Link
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$10 day-of-event without a valid permit or prepayment (pay station or ParkMobile app – zone no. 95112)
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ParkMobile prepayment availability ends at 11:59 p.m. the night before each event. Events will not be selectable on the site after that time, and payment must then be made on site upon arrival to event parking staff (cash only).
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NEXT UP
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The Nittany Lions head to Canton, N.Y. to take on the No. 5 ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on neutral ice on Friday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. Penn State will then face off against St. Lawrence at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 to continue their non-conference schedule.
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.