PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team pieced together a rock-solid all-around effort in its 3-0 shutout win over Boston University in Sunday's Battle at the 'Burgh consolation game at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Penn State (11-7-2) put together a full 60 minutes of dangerous offense and stout defense to pick up its third 3-0 shutout in the last four games.
PSU had goals scored by its top 2021-22 goal scorers so far, with Julie Gough (Newcastle, Ontario), Natalie Heising (Wayzata, Minn.) and Kiara Zanon (Fairport, N.Y.) each finding the back of the net.
Josie Bothun earned her third shutout in the last four games by stopping 26 shots by the Terriers (9-7-4).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gough got the ball rolling for Penn State once again by scoring the Nittany Lions' first goal in the second-straight game just 30 seconds in. After Zanon won a puck battle below the goal line, Heising flicked a shot on goal that stayed loose in the crease.
Gough crashed the net and poked it over the goal line to give Penn State the start it wanted, a 1-0 lead with 19:30 on the clock in the first period.
After taking the 1-0 edge into the second period, Penn State went to the power play and doubled the lead at the 3:54 mark. Heising creeped in with the puck from the right corner down the goal line and stuffed home the puck on the doorstep.
Her team-leading 13th of the season put Penn State ahead 2-0 in the second period.
Soon after Heising's goal, BU went to its first power play of the game and had several good scoring chances on the advantage, but Bothun was particularly sharp with a handful of great saves to keep the Terriers off the board.
Penn State took the 2-0 lead into the second intermission.
The Nittany Lions continued to play rock solid in the third period in keeping the Terriers off the scoreboard. The combination of keeping possession in the offensive end, clogging up shooting lanes, and Bothun making timely saves proved to be the winning formula in the final period.
Zanon netted an empty-net goal with 30 seconds remaining to close out the win, 3-0, in Penn State's favor.
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions will play on home ice for the first time since early November when they host Cornell in a Tuesday evening showdown Jan. 11. Game time is set for 6 p.m. from Pegula Ice Arena.
