UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women’s hockey team narrowly fell to No. 2 Ohio State, 2-1, on Friday evening at Pegula Ice Arena during its "Wear White" game.
Women’s hockey also welcomed back seven members of the Class of 2026, Tessa Janecke, Maddy Christian, Katelyn Roberts, Kendall Butze, Katie DeSa, Leah Stecker and Mya Vaslet, all of whom were selected in the 2026 PWHL Draft. The group took part in a ceremonial puck drop and signed autographs for fans after the game.
Junior co-captain Grace Outwater scored for the Nittany Lions for the second straight night, while junior Grace Tullock picked up the primary assist and first-year Megan Hosman recorded her first collegiate point with the secondary assist.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Despite being outshot 11–3 in the opening period, Penn State generated several quality chances early.
- Outwater opened the scoring 4:14 into the first period. Tullock chipped a perfect pass through the air that landed just inside the blue line, sending Outwater in alone on a breakaway. She fired the puck into the back of the net to give the Nittany Lions a 1–0 lead.
- Ohio State answered just over four minutes later on the power play, as Hilda Svensson tied the game with assists from Mira Jungåker and Hayley MacDonald.
- Penn State continued to create opportunities, including chances from junior alternate captain Abby Stonehouse and first-year Kylie Amelkovich, but could not regain the lead.
- Penn State and Ohio State were called for penalties a minute apart late in the period, resulting in 4-on-4 play before a brief Nittany Lion power play to close out the frame.
- Sophomore goaltender Maddy Campbell finished the first period with 11 saves to keep the game tied at one.
- Both teams had a power-play opportunity in the second period, but neither was able to capitalize.
- The Buckeyes scored the eventual game-winner with just under two minutes remaining in the period. Kaia Malachino found Rylee Bartz, who fired a shot into the back of the net to give Ohio State a 2–1 lead.
- Ohio State’s Ellah Hause was called for interference to close out the middle frame, sending Penn State into the third period on the power play.
- Campbell came up with several key stops in the period and finished the frame with 14 saves to keep Penn State within one.
- Despite opening the third period with a power-play opportunity, Penn State could not find the back of the net. The Nittany Lions then faced an Ohio State power play, with Stonehouse coming up with two big blocked shots to keep the deficit at one.
- Ohio State rang another shot off the post while looking to extend its lead, but could not find the back of the net.
- With 36 seconds remaining, the Nittany Lions pulled Campbell for an extra attacker in search of the equalizer, but the Buckeyes held on for the 2–1 victory.
GOALTENDERS
- Ohio State goaltender Rowan Houweling finished with 11 saves.
- Campbell concluded the game with 31 saves.
STATS AND NOTES
- Outwater has scored in each of Penn State’s first two games for the second straight season after also finding the back of the net in both games of the Nittany Lions’ season-opening sweep of No. 9 St. Lawrence in 2025–26.
- The series marked the first time Penn State and Ohio State have played back-to-back games decided by one goal.
UP NEXT
Penn State opens conference play next weekend, hosting Robert Morris on Friday, October 2 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, October 3 at 2 p.m.