No. 6/7 Nittany Lions Traveling East to Face Vermont

HISTORY

• The two programs have met five prior times, with Penn State leading the series 3-1-1.
• Penn State’s first game in program history was against Vermont at Gutterson Field House, with the Nittany Lions winning 5-3 on Oct. 6, 2012.
• The Catamounts took the last meeting 3-1 in 2023 at Pegula Ice Arena.

SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS

• Vermont opens their season with the Nittany Lions on Friday evening, having only played an exhibition, defeating St. Michael’s 8-0 on Sept. 20.
• In the exhibition, Josie Hemp and Lauren O’Hara each had a goal and two assists, leading the Catamounts.
• Vermont returns three of their top five leading scorers from a season ago. Ashley Kokavec is the top returner, scoring 16 points in 2024-25.
• The Catamounts return one goaltender from last season, Ellie Simmons. She played in five games, starting three and posted a 3.44 goals against average and .863 save percentage.
• Last year they finished a 9-25-2 record and eighth in the Hockey East, falling to eventual champions Boston University in the Hockey Quarterfinals in overtime.

DESA NAMED AHA GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

• Senior Katie DeSa was named the Atlantic Hockey America Goaltender of the Week as the league announced on Tuesday afternoon. This is the 10th time DeSa has won the honor.
• DeSa had a strong start to the season, making 36 total saves over two games to help the Nittany Lions sweep ninth-ranked St. Lawrence.

The senior only allowed two goals, both coming in game two after she had a 15-save shutout in game one.

 

 

 

OPENING WEEKEND OUTBURST

• Penn State’s eight goals are the most in program history through two games.
• In Penn State’s opening weekend sweep, 13 skaters recorded at least a point with eight recording two or more.
• Tessa Janecke led the way with three points.
• Four newcomers recorded at least a point with Danica Maynard and Mikah Keller each recording two assists while Matilde Fantin had her first collegiate goal and Sophie Morrow dished an assist.
• Sophomore Taya MacDonald also recorded her first collegiate goal.

NATIONAL RANKINGS

• Penn State is currently ranked sixth in the USCHO.com poll, its highest ranking ever. The Nittany Lions came in seventh in this week’s USA Hockey poll.
• The squad currently is top 10 in both scoring offense (9^th, 4.0 goals per game) and scoring defense (6^th, 1.0 goal allowed a game).
• The Nittany Lions also rank fourth nationally in faceoff win percentage at 65.2.
• Tessa Janecke is ranked 10^th in the country in total faceoff wins with 30.