UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team plays its second-straight road series to begin the 2019-20 season when it heads to Madison, Wisc. to take on top-ranked and defending national champion Wisconsin Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Penn State at (#1/1) Wisconsin
Dates: Friday, Oct. 4 | Saturday, Oct. 5
Place: LaBahn Arena, Madison, Wisc.
Times: 8:07 PM (ET) | 8:07 PM (ET)
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2
Television: Game 1 on Fox Sports Wisconsin and via the Fox Sports Go App
Livestream: BTN+ (Game 1) | BTN+ (Game 2)
Game Notes: Penn State Game Notes
Friday's game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Wisconsin for those who have access the regional network via their TV provider. You can use this channel finder to find where you can find the broadcast. Those with Fox Sports Wisconsin can also watch the game on the Fox Sports Go app using their TV provider login information.
Both games will also be available on BTN+, which is also a subscription-based service that will feature Penn State home games this season.
TRADITIONAL FOES' FIRST MATCHUP
This series marks the first-ever matchup between the traditional B1G schools in women's hockey. This is the second of three first-time matchups for the Nittany Lions in 2019-20 with a fourth possible in the second game of the Thanksgiving Windjammer Classic should the Nittany Lions play Minnesota State Mankato.
COACH KAMPERSAL ON PLAYING THE BADGERS IN MADISON
"I think it'll be a great experience for our team to see the national championship ceremony and play against Wisconsin. We're going to compete and we're going there with a goal of winning two games. At the same time, we want to see pictures on the walls and the banner raising and know all the hard work that the Wisconsin staff and players have put in. We want to know what it takes to be a national champion and get that feeling. I think it'll be good for our group to experience that."
It's the first-ever matchup between Penn State and No. 1 Wisconsin at LaBahn Arena this weekend! @jkampy wants the Nittany Lions to embrace the challenge and soak in the experience.#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/uZ85aduuip
— Penn State Women's Hockey (@PennStateWHKY) October 3, 2019
LAST TIME OUT: HOLY CROSS
Penn State started the 2019-20 regular season with its first-ever series against the Holy Cross Crusaders. Both games were tightly contested outings that both ended in ties: 3-3 in game one on Friday and 1-1 Saturday.
Penn State had goals scored by Julie Gough, her first as a Nittany Lion, and Natalie Heising within the first five minutes of the opening period in game one. A 5-on-3 goal by Shea Nelson gave PSU a two-goal lead heading to the third, but two third-period scores by the Crusaders led to the 3-3 draw.
In game two, a shorthanded marker put Holy Cross ahead late in the second period, but a power-play goal with 95 seconds remaining in regulation by Katie McMillan helped PSU bounce back to force another tie. Rene Gangarosa had an assist as did Rachel Weiss, the first point of her collegiate career.
A BUNCH OF CLOSE CALLS
Penn State had two overtime games to begin the 2018-19 season. Since the beginning of the 2017-18 season, the Nittany Lions have played in 28 overtime games, which is the most in national collegiate women's hockey over that timeframe.
The Nittany Lions have also gone on to tie 22 of those games, also the most in the nation. The Nittany Lions drew 11 times in '17-18, one short of the record of 12 set in 2012 by Boston University.
FRESHMEN ON THE BOARD
Freshman forward, Julie Gough, scored a goal for her first career point at 1:49 in the first period. It was the first goal of the season for the Nittany Lions. Gough also finished the weekend with a team-best +2 rating.
Fellow freshman forward, Rachel Weiss, had a key assist in the Saturday's game for her first career point. She had the primary assist on Katie McMillan's game-tying, power-play goal with just 95 seconds left in regulation.
A NEW LOOK
Penn State will be wearing their new navy helmets for this weekend along with their white home jerseys, a change from Penn State's traditional white helmet with the blue stripe and road blue sweaters.
Izzy showing off our new blue helmets with our white sweaters! This will be our look this weekend against Wisconsin! @UniWatch #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/alNUWE2tHg
— Penn State Women's Hockey (@PennStateWHKY) October 2, 2019
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