ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team mustered several rallies to start a comeback in its first CHA contest of the 2021-22 season, but the Nittany Lions couldn't erase multiple two-goal deficits in a 4-3 road loss to Mercyhurst Friday evening at Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Penn State (3-4-2, 0-1-0 CHA) pulled within one goal on three difference occasions but were unable to pull even with the Lakers (8-3-1, 1-0-0 CHA) who held the lead from their first goal in the second period until the final whistle.
Junior forward Julie Gough (Newcastle, Ontario), senior forward Anna Promersberger (Fargo, N.D.) and sophomore forward Maeve Connolly (West Roxbury, Mass.) each scored for Penn State.
Sophomore goaltender Josie Bothun (Wyoming, Minn.) stopped 19 shots in net for Penn State.
Mercyhurst had four different goal scorers in the contest, but goaltender Ena Nystrom made the big plays for Mercyhurst with several key saves in big moments as the Nittany Lions attempted their comeback.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Scoring did not open up until early in the second period when the Lakers struck first. Sara Boucher netted the game's first score just 2:29 into the second period to give Mercyhurst the 1-0 edge.
The Lakers followed up with a second goal off the stick of Vanessa Upson to double their lead at the 8:16 mark in the frame.
After needed to kill a penalty after the second Laker goal, Penn State went to a power play of their own and Gough narrowed the margin to one thanks to extend her goal streak to four games. She tapped in a loose puck in front of the goal crease to cut Mercyhurst's lead to 2-1 with 8:13 in the second.
However, the Lakers quickly got their goal back less than a minute later thanks to Marielle Parks at 12:26 in the second.
Just as the score looked like it would remain 3-1 Lakers entering the second intermission, Penn State notched another goal with 1:49 left on the clock in the period. Mallory Uihlein (Edina, Minn.) found a shooting lane from the right point and Promersberger's blade lifted the puck just under the crossbar on a redirect to cut the deficit once again to one goal. Mercyhurst led 3-2 after two periods.
The Lakers wasted little time earning their two-goal edge right back early in the third period as Sydney Pederson scored 3:14 into the final period to give Mercyhurst some cushion.
It would turn out the Lakers needed it as Penn State put on a furious offensive flurry late in regulation to try and tie the game. With 2:22 remaining and Bothun on the bench for an extra attacker, Connolly crashed the net and got her stick on the puck to force it into the cage and bring Penn State within one once again.
The Nittany Lions gained possession again and got Bothun off for an extra skater again, and Uihlein had a great scoring opportunity with 88 seconds left, but Mercyhurst goalie Ena Nystrom made a spectacular save to hold the advantage and eventually let Mercyhurst take the game 4-3.
GAME STATS & NOTES
- Gough's multipoint effort (1G, 1A) extended her current point and goal streak to a career-long four games.
- With Gough's power-play goal, Penn State has scored seven times on its last 13 power plays in the last four games.
- Natalie Heising (Wayzata, Minn.) and Kiara Zanon (Fairport, N.Y.) each had two assists in the contest and combined for nine shots on goal.
- Amy Dobson (Hamilton, Ontario) produced several of Penn State's best scoring chances for the game and finished with a career-high nine shots on goal to lead all skaters.
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions and Lakers complete their series tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m.