SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Freshman Charlie Cerrato (Fallston, Md.) scored twice and junior goaltender Arsenii Sergeev (Yaroslavl, Russia) pitched a 34-save shutout as Penn State defeated Notre Dame, 3-0, in Big Ten Conference action from Compton Family Arena on Sunday evening.
The Nittany Lions snap a nine-game conference winless streak improving to 8-9-1 on the year and 1-8-1-0-1-0 in Big Ten play while the Irish fall to 6-13-1 overall and 1-10-1-1-2-1 in league action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless first period, Penn State opened the middle frame strong scoring twice in a 27-second span as freshman Charlie Cerrato (Fallston, Md.) received a great pass from sophomore Matt DiMarsico (Wexford, Pa.) and streaked down the near wall before lacing a shot far-side past the glove of Irish net-minder Owen Say for the 1-0 edge at the 2:16 mark.
- Senior Danny Dzhaniyev (Brooklyn, N.Y.) then caused a turnover below the goal line and wheeled around the Notre Dame net before ripping a wicked wrister shortside and over the glove of Say for the 2-0 margin at 2:43 of the middle frame.
- The Nittany Lions pushed the lead to 3-0 in the third as sophomore Aiden Fink (Calgary, Alberta) sent a beautiful stretch pass ahead connecting with a streaking Cerrato who got behind the defense and he buried the puck through Say’s five-hole for his second of the game at the 6:02 mark.
GOALTENDING
Sergeev improves to 5-4-1 on the year following 34 saves to secure his second shutout of the season and the third of his career while his counterpart, Say, now drops to 5-8-0 after stopping 33 shots in the defeat.
NOTES
- Penn State held the slim 36-34 edge in shots on goal while going a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill. The Nittany Lions themselves were 0-for-4 with the man-advantage.
- The multi-goal game is the first of his career for Cerrato and marks his sixth multi-point effort of the season.
- Sergeev collected his second assist in as many games with the secondary apple on Cerrato’s second goal of the game in the third period.
- The shutout is the second for the Nittany Lions this season and their first in Big Ten action since a 3-0 victory over No. 1 Michigan back on November 4, 2022.
- Sergeev stopped 77-of-80 shots on the weekend posting a .963 save percentage with a 1.44 goals-against average.
NEXT UP
Penn State returns home to begin a six-game homestand as they welcome the No. 1 Michigan State Spartans to Hockey Valley for a weekend series. Tickets for each contest are still available HERE.
For more information on the 2024-25 season, visit the men's hockey page at GoPSUsports.com or call 1-800-NITTANY Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.