BOSTON - The Penn State women's ice hockey team was selected to place first in the 2024-25 Atlantic Hockey America Preseason Coaches' Poll as the league announced on Tuesday morning. Junior forward Tessa Janecke, graduate defenseman Lyndie Lobdell, and junior goaltender Katie DeSa were all named to the Preseason All-AHA team.
Penn State's selection as the AHA favorite comes after the Nittany Lions secured their second straight regular season and tournament title in 2023-24. Tournament runner-up Mercyhurst was selected to finish second while Robert Morris and RIT were picked to finish third and fourth. Syracuse and Lindenwood rounded out the poll finishing tied for fifth.
Penn State returns to the ice following a 22-13-3 season in 2023-24 what included its second straight NCAA tournament appearance. The Nittany Lions return 14 letterwinners from 2023-24 roster while welcoming in eight newcomers including a pair of transfers to round out the 22-women roster.
On an individual front, three Nittany Lions earned spots on the Preseason All-AHA team, with Preseason Player of the Year Tessa Janecke starting the three. Janecke was named the league’s Forward and Player of the Year a season ago following a career-high 53-point season. She racked up 17 goals and 36 assists. She became the fastest player in program history to hit 100 career points and was a Patty Kazmaier top 10 finalist.
The Orangeville, Ill. native was named AHA Forward of the Week four times and AHA Forward of the Month three times. She also tallied two hat-tricks coming against Lindenwood and Dartmouth. Janecke sat tied for eighth in the nation in points while she led the nation in faceoff wins with 630 and was tied for fourth in assists.
Graduate student Lyndie Lobdell was the next Nittany Lion to land a spot on the Preseason All-AHA Team. Lobdell entering her fifth season at Penn State, has been a member of the past two AHA Tournament title victories and NCAA tournament appearances. In 2023-24, she played in all 38 games recording a career-high nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points. She also accumulated three AHA Defensive Player of the Week honors. In her entire career to date, Lobdell has accumulated 63 points off 16 goals and 47 assists.
The final member of the team to land a spot on the Preseason All-AHA Team was junior goaltender Katie DeSa. The Pawcatuck, Conn. native came in the clutch in 2023-24 recording a 9-3-2 record in 14 games played. She registered a .938 save percentage and GAA of 1.39. She also tallied four shutouts including one in the AHA tournament championship game. She also earned AHA Goaltender of the Month once as well as AHA Goaltender of the Week in her sophomore season.
Penn State opens the 2024-25 season on Thursday, Sept. 26 when they host Northeastern. Game-time is set for 6 p.m.