Women's Hockey Rallies to Defeat Robert Morris in Conference OpenerWomen's Hockey Rallies to Defeat Robert Morris in Conference Opener

Women's Hockey Rallies to Defeat Robert Morris in Conference Opener

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women’s hockey team rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Robert Morris, 5-3, in its conference opener Friday night at Pegula Ice Arena. 

Junior alternate captain Nicole Hall opened Penn State’s scoring on the power play in the first period, with first-year Kylie Amelkovich earning her first collegiate point with an assist on the play. First-year Sofia Ismael followed with her first collegiate goal later in the opening frame. Junior captain Grace Outwater gave the Nittany Lions the 3-2 lead in the second period. First-year Lorelai Nelson added her first collegiate goal in the third, and junior alternate captain Abby Stonehouse sealed the victory with an empty-net goal. First-year Morgan Stickney made 13 saves to earn her first collegiate win.

 HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Robert Morris struck first as Alaina Giampietro scored on the power play four minutes into the opening period to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead. Rowyn Ringor doubled the advantage just 1:16 later. 
  • Penn State pulled within one on the power play six minutes later. Amelkovich drove around the net and took an initial shot before Hall buried the rebound. 
  • Ismael tied the game at 2-2 seven minutes later, firing a shot from the left circle into the top left corner of the net. 
  • Penn State outshot Robert Morris 13-6 in the first stanza. 
  • The Nittany Lions opened the second period with a power play opportunity but were unable to convert.
  • Outwater gave Penn State the lead four minutes later, wrapping around the net and stuffing the puck home. 
  • Penn State held a 14-4 advantage in shots in the middle frame.
  • The Nittany Lions killed off an early penalty in the third period before consecutive Robert Morris penalties gave Penn State a five-on-three advantage.  
  • Nelson capitalized with her first collegiate goal at 9:31 on the five-on-three advantage, extending Penn State’s led to 4-2. 
  • The Colonials cut the deficit to 4-3 on their own five-on-three advantage with 3:01 remaining. Robert Morris then pulled its goaltender with 1:13 left, creating a six-on-four advantage. 
  • Penn State killed of the remaining penalty with 27 seconds left before junior alternate captain Abby Stonehouse scored an empty-net goal with nine seconds to go to secure the 5-3 victory. 

STATS AND NOTES 

  • The win marks Penn State’s ninth straight victory over Robert Morris. 
  • The Nittany Lions have won their conference opener in each of the last five seasons.
  • Outwater has scored in Penn State’s first three games for the second consecutive season. She also scored in both games against No. 2/2 Ohio State to open the 2026-27 season. Last season, she scored in the season-opening sweep of No. 9 St. Lawrence on Sept. 25-26 and against Vermont on Oct. 3. 
  • Hall and Stonehouse tallied their first goals of the season.
  • Stonehouse and Ismael both tallied a goal and an assist.
  • Amelkovich tallied two assists on the evening.

UP NEXT 

Penn State wraps up the weekend series against Robert Morris Saturday at 2:00 p.m. for its THON/Night to Shine game.  

FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS 

Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State Women’s Hockey. Fans can stay up to date with the Nittany Lions on X and Instagram at @pennstatewhky and on Facebook at /PennStateWomensHockey.