UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Penn State women's hockey team finished off a crucial CHA conference sweep of the Mercyhurst Lakers by a score of 3-1 in part to a pair of Mallory Uihlein (Edina Minn.) goals.
Uihlein's two goals coupled with Amy Dobson's (Hamilton Ont.) third period red light helped Penn State (14-8-3, 7-2-1 CHA) build a margin that Mercyhurst (16-9-2, 6-4-0) couldn't overcome despite a goal in the third period.
"Great first two periods and a solid 'do-what-we-have-to-do in the third," coach Jeff Kampersal said. "It got a little intense there but again we get big plays down the stretch to get the W… Overall, it's an awesome sweep. It was a pretty intense series so we're definitely excited."
Sophomore goaltender Josie Bothun (Wyoming Minn.) stopped 26 of the 27 shots that were turned her way to help propel the Nittany Lions to the crucial victory.
The Nittany Lions are now at the top of the CHA standings with a 7-2-1 record and a .750 conference points earned percentage at the time of the conclusion of Saturday's game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State wasted no time putting pressure on Mercyhurst goalie Jenna Silvonen to start the game. The combination of Kiara Zanon (Fairport N.Y) and Natalie Heising (Wayzata Minn.) added onto their momentum from the afternoon before, each registering a shot on net.
The Lakers were able to weather the storm and responded with a test of their own to Penn State goaltender Josie Bothun.
The Nittany Lions would finally break the ice when Uihlein launched a slapshot that deflected off a Mercyhurst body and into the back of the net. Zanon and Heising picked up assists on the play to give Penn State the 1-0 lead at 12:16 in the first period.
To close the first period, the Nittany Lions inherited their first power play courtesy of a Paige Whaley trip. Penn State was able to register two shots on goal but couldn't find the netting.
The second period started with more dominant play by the Nittany Lions. A four-on-four opportunity culminated in two goals for Penn State.
Uihlein netted the first, scoring her second of the day on point shot that trickled by the Mercyhurst goaltender. Soon after Dobson added another, snapping home a big rebound off an Izzy Heminger (Dublin Ohio) slapshot from the point.
The Lakers would answer late in the period stringing together a flurry of shots that would be handled by Bothun. Mercyhurst came away with their first power play of the game on a Rene Gangarossa (Rochester N.Y) hook but would fail to score.
Mercyhurst entered the third looking to build upon the momentum gained at the end of the second period. The Lakers again tested Bothun, however, she continued to make saves on the way to her 14th win of the season.
The Lakers were able to add a power play goal midway through the third period after Anna Promersberger (Fargo N.D) was penalized for body checking. Mercyhurst pulled their goaltender to tilt the ice two people in the Lakers favor, and freshman forward Marielle Parks would net a gritty goal below the dots.
Mercyhurst continued to fight their way back into the game, but Bothun would again stand tall for the blue and white making 12 of her 26 saves in the third period.
Mercyhurst would pull their goaltender on several occasions in an effort to make the comeback, but a late interference call on defenseman Sydney Pedersen would end the game 3-1 and give the Nittany Lions the victory.
GAME NOTES AND STATS
- Uihlein's two goals put her at a career high six goals on the season. She also has a career-high 13 points this year.
- Uihlein's two-goal game was the first multi-goal game of her career. Her six goals this season is a personal best and tied for second most by a PSU defender with teammate Rene Gangarosa.
- Uihlein also has 33 career points, which puts her in fifth place on Penn State's all-time defender scoring chart.
- Heising added another point on the first Uihlein goal to extend her point streak to six games. She has 10 points over this span (6G, 4A). Heising had two goals and an assist in this series against Mercyhurst. Her season total is now at 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points, a new Penn State single-season record.
- Bothun and Penn State's defense have kept opponents at two goals or less in 19 of 25 games this season.
NEXT UP
Penn State will host Syracuse on Friday, Feb. 4th, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 5th at 2 p.m. in an important CHA series for both teams with aspirations to clinch the regular season title and host the CHA Tournament.