UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 5 Penn State women's ice hockey team (4-3-0, 4-1-0 AHA) battled past Lindenwood (4-5-0, 1-4-0 AHA), 5-4, on Friday afternoon at Pegula Ice Arena.
Junior McKenna Walsh opened the scoring for the Nittany Lions with her first goal of the season off an assist from sophomore Sophie Morrow. First-year Kylie Amelkovich netted two goals in the second period, with first-year Sofia Ismael and Morrow assisting on her first tally. Junior Grace Tullock and senior Ashley Kokavec earned assists on Amelkovich’s second goal. Junior captain Grace Outwater found the back of the net in the third period, with assists from junior alternate captain Nicole Hall and sophomore Mikah Keller. Morrow rounded out Penn State’s scoring, netting her first goal of the season and the eventual game-winner off an assist from Keller.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Penn State opened the contest with several early scoring opportunities as both teams traded chances throughout the opening minutes.
- After serving a two-minute penalty, Walsh skated out of the box, collected a pass from Morrow, skated in on a breakaway and fired a shot in the five hole to give Penn State a 1-0 lead.
- Penn State continued to apply offensive pressure, generating opportunities from Morrow, Keller and Outwater, but Lindenwood goaltender Ebba Ridderstolpe kept the Nittany Lions from extending their lead.
- The Nittany Lions held a 12-8 edge in shots on goal.
- Lindenwood responded quickly to open the middle frame as Paige Cline found the back of the net just 46 seconds into the period to even the score at 1-1.
- Penn State regained the lead on the power play as Amelkovich capitalized on a rebound five minutes into the period.
- Lindenwood answered with back-to-back goals from Gunderson and Weller to take a 3-2 advantage.
- However, Amelkovich responded for the Nittany Lions, netting an odd bounce for her second goal of the afternoon at 13:24 to even the score at 3-3.
- Penn State continued to pressure the Lindenwood defense throughout the remainder of the period, including a late power-play opportunity, but neither team was able to break the deadlock.
- The two teams entered the final intermission tied at 3-3, with Penn State holding a 24-18 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Nittany Lions came out aggressively in the final frame, generating several early scoring chances as they looked to reclaim the lead.
- Outwater broke the tie with her third goal of the season, with an assist from Hall, to put Penn State ahead 4-3.
- However, Lindenwood once again tied the game as Cline recorded her second goal of the afternoon to even the contest at 4-4.
- Morrow delivered the game decision at 14:38, finding the back of the net off an assist from Keller to give the Nittany Lions a 5-4 lead.
- Lindenwood pulled Ridderstolpe with 1:55 remaining in regulation in search of the equalizer, but Penn State held off the late push to secure the victory.
UP NEXT
Penn State concludes its two-game home series against Lindenwood on Saturday, Oct. 17, at noon at Pegula Ice Arena.