Women’s Ice Hockey’s Katie DeSa Invited to USA Hockey National Goaltending Camp

DeSa ranked as one of the top goaltenders in the nation this past season having been selected as the Brianne McLaughlin AHA Goaltender of the Year and an All-AHA First Team selection. She is the second Nittany Lion to win the conference’s Goaltender of the Year award, joining Josie Bothun who won in 2020-21. The junior was named a semifinalist for the HCA Goalie of the Year Award on February 7.  

The Pawcatuck, Connecticut native earned two AHA Goaltender of the Month honors (December and January) and seven AHA Goaltender of the Week awards (Sept. 30, Oct. 21, Nov. 25, Dec. 9, Jan. 6, Jan. 20 and Jan. 27). 

She compiled an impressive 27-6-0 record this past season. Her 27 victories are the most in a season in program history. She finished tied for the most shutouts in a season in team history with nine. That mark placed her second in the country. 

Nationally, DeSa finished the 2024-25 campaign ranking second in wins, second in winning percentage (.818), fourth in goals against average (1.418) and 16th in save percentage (.932). She led the AHA in all five categories. 

For her career, she is second on Penn State’s all-time wins list (37) and second in shutouts (13). Her current career winning percentage (.7857) and goals allowed average (1.47) top the program’s career leaderboard. 

DeSa served as the goaltender for the Nittany Lions as the team won a program-best 31 games, including an AHA record of 19 conference victories. The team won its third consecutive AHA Championship en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance. Penn State finished eighth in both the DCU/USCHO and USA Hockey/The Rink Live women’s college hockey polls.