EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – The Penn State women's hockey team wrapped up its final road trip of the 2021-22 regular season with a 2-0 shutout at LIU Saturday afternoon at the Northwell Health Ice Center.
Natalie Heising (Wayzata, Minn.) and Rachel Weiss (Calgary, Alberta) were the goal scorers for the Nittany Lions, with Heising's tally coming in the second period and Weiss' score being of the insurance variety in the third period.
With a 12-save shutout in goal, Josie Bothun (Wyoming, Minn.) earned her eighth shutout of the season, setting a new Penn State single-season record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first period that saw Penn State outshoot the Sharks 15-6, Penn State the first power play of the game just over seven minutes into the second period to take the initial advantage.
After a Kiara Zanon (Fairport, N.Y.) faceoff win in the left circle, Heising sprung on puck and maneuvered to the middle of the ice. She ripped a right-handed wrist shot off the pipe and in for her fifth power-play score of the season to put Penn State head 1-0 at 7:04 in the first period.
The Nittany Lions looked to add insurance in the third period with a couple of great scoring chances, namely a shot from Julie Gough (Newcastle, Ontario) that was stopped on a big save by LIU goalie Tindra Holm. Another chance created on the rush by Weiss rang off the crossbar as Penn State continued to apply pressure looking for the insurance goal.
Penn State did have to kill an LIU power play midway through the third period to keep the Sharks off the board. The Nittany Lions were able to do so, and the insurance goal soon followed.
Weiss raced into the offensive end down the right wing and placed a perfect wrist shot in the top right corner of the goal that gave PSU an important insurance goal with 7:49 remaining in regulation. The Nittany Lions held on from there to win 2-0.
GAME NOTES AND STATS
- Heising's second-period score was her 19th of the season, tying her single-season program record set back in her freshman season 2017-18.
- Heising adds to her power-play goal program record with 24 goals on the advantage.
- Weiss has now scored in four-straight games, a career-best goal streak for her. Her seven goals this season is also a personal best in a season.
- Zanon's assist on Heising's goal was her 25th of the season, further adding to her PSU single-season record for helpers. She was also excellent in the faceoff circle going 17-5 at the dot.
- Zanon and Gough tied for the team lead with nine shots on goal each.
NEXT UP
Penn State concludes its 2021-22 regular season and CHA conference schedule with a two-game set against RIT Feb. 18-19 at Pegula Ice Arena. Saturday's contest will be senior day.