SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Penn State women’s ice hockey team (2-3-, 2-1 AHA) battled back from two separate two-goal deficits to force overtime but ultimately fell to Syracuse, 5-4, on Friday evening at Tennity Ice Pavilion.
First-year Kylie Amelkovich got Penn State on the board in the second period off assists from sophomore Sophie Morrow and first-year Sofia Ismael. Sophomore Mikah Keller followed with the equalizer, assisted by Ismael and junior co-captain Taya MacDonald. In the final stanza, sophomore Danica Maynard found the back of the net off assists from Morrow and Amelkovich, while junior alternate captain Nicole Hall tallied the game-tying goal with assists from junior McKenna Walsh and first-year Lorelai Nelson to force overtime.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Penn State earned a power-play opportunity just three minutes into the first period, generating five shot attempts, including two on goal, but was unable to capitalize.
- Syracuse’s Jackson Kinsler put the Orange ahead 1-0 on a two-on-one opportunity six minutes later, taking a cross-ice pass from linemate Emma Gnade on the right side before firing the puck into the back of the net.
- Despite trailing 1-0 after the first period, Penn State held a 17-5 advantage in shot attempts, including a 7-5 edge in shots on goal.
- Penn State and Syracuse were assessed penalties 50 seconds apart early in the second period, resulting in four-on-four play, but neither team was able to capitalize.
- Penn State earned a power-play opportunity midway through the second period, generating a quality scoring chance, but Syracuse goaltender Ava Drabyk came up with a key save to preserve the Orange's lead.
- Amelkovich followed with a shot that rang off the post.
- Three minutes later, Syracuse’s Jordan Blouin capitalized on a rebound to extend the Orange's lead to 2-0.
- Penn State responded just 1:25 later as Amelkovich redirected a shot from the point by Morrow into the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1.
- Keller evened the score at two four minutes later, taking a pass from Ismael before firing a shot from the slot into the back of the net.
- Penn State continued to pressure Syracuse throughout the second period, outshooting the Orange 25-3.
- In the third period, Syracuse’s Nea Tervonen regained the lead for the Orange, scoring off the rush to make it a 3-2 game.
- Syracuse extended its lead to 4-2 just two minutes later, capitalizing on a power-play opportunity as Jocelyn Fiala one-timed the puck into the back of the net.
- Penn State answered on a power play of its own at 8:45 of the third period as Maynard chipped home a rebound to bring the Nittany Lions within one.
- With three minutes remaining in regulation, Hall one-timed a shot from the slot into the back of the net to tie the game at four and force overtime.
- In overtime, Syracuse’s Jocelyn Fiala scored the game-winning goal, ripping a shot from the slot into the back of the net to secure a 5-4 victory for the Orange.
STATS AND NOTES
- Keller and Maynard each recorded their first goals of the season.
- Walsh tallied her first point of the season with her assist.
- Maynard, Ismael, and Amelkovich extended their point streaks to three games.
- Hall and Morrow extended their point streaks to two games.
- Penn State recorded at least 40 shots on goal for the third consecutive game.
UP NEXT:
Women's Hockey wraps up the series against Syracuse at 3 p.m. at the Tennity Ice Pavilion.