UNIVERSITY PARK Pa.- The Penn State Nittany Lions finished their 2021-2022 season last weekend against RIT with a record of 18-9-5 while having a conference record of 8-3-2. However, their work this season is far from done, as they enter the CHA tournament this weekend facing Mercyhurst in the first round.
Despite starting the year against St. Lawrence and Boston College 0-3-1, the slow start did not hold the Nittany Lions back.
Penn State would win seven of its next 10 games to head into the Thanksgiving Day weekend tournament in Washington D.C. where they picked up a 3-2 win over then No. 7/6 Minnesota-Duluth.
In the new year the Nittany Lions sported a solid 6-3-3 record including decisive wins against conference opponents like Mercyhurst and RIT. They also swept a weekend series on the road against an out of conference opponent, LIU.
Several Nittany Lions players had breakout regular seasons that hopefully carry into a long postseason run.
Forward Natalie Heising has been nothing short of spectacular in her time wearing the Blue and White. This season Heising scored 20 goals and 40 points which both led the team. She is the CHA Conference Player of The Year, and an All-CHA Team forward.
Adding to Heising's long list of Penn State accolades is her program leading 155-games played.
Heising will leave Happy Valley at the end of this season as one of the greatest players in program history.
Heising isn't the only forward to excel this season, junior Julie Gough had an excellent goal scoring season thanks in part to her seven-game goal streak. She finished the season with a career high 10 goals and 16 points.
"She's a sharpshooter… It's kind of her little area either in front of the net or off to the side," said Nittany Lions head coach Jeff Kampersal on Gough. "When she gets it, she's pretty strong on her stick."
Joining Gough and Heising is another junior forward Racheal Weiss. Weiss has settled into her role as a speedy goal scoring threat late in the season and looks to carry her momentum into the postseason.
"She's simplified her game and focused on her strength, which is her speed, then getting into those spots where she can shoot," said Kampersal. "She's got a good shot, she works on it. Her goals have been off simple hard work plays."
Weiss has eight goals and 14-points this season for the Nittany Lions.
Sophomore forward Kiara Zanon, who is the reigning CHA Conference Player of the Year, continued her great play this season and obtained All-CHA team honors for a second season in a row. She finished the year with 13 goals and 39 points. Both were second best on the team to Heising.
"She's just so talented… She's such a good player and such a great skater, she's so easy to play off of," said linemate Heising.
On defense this season, two players achieved All-CHA Team honors. Rene Gangarossa and Mallory Uihlien, who both provided solid play on defense for the Nittany Lions this season.
Offensively, Uihlein has had her best season to date, scoring six goals which is a career high. She also added 13 assist for 19 points on the season.
"She's just magical at the point sometimes, you give her some time and space and she's going to find that lane," Heising said about Uihlein. "Teams should watch out for that because whoever gives her time, she's gonna find a way to get that puck to the net."
This season also marked the emergence of a prominent young defender in Karley Garcia. Garcia earned All-CHA Rookie Team honors at the end of the season after recording two goals and 10 assist for 12 points.
Penn State's last line of defense, sophomore goaltender Josie Bothun, had a phenomenal year between the pipes posting a 10 shutouts this season, tying a program record, including a .925 save percentage and allowing 1.61 goals per game.
Bothun also incurred many honors throughout the season. She was CHA goaltender of the week seven times throughout the season and is an HCA Goaltender of The Year finalist.
Penn State travels to Syracuse this weekend for the CHA Tournament as the Orange won the right to host the tournament achieving the top seed this season.
"We're comfortable going on the road and doing our thing," said Kampersal on heading to the tough environment.
The Nittany Lions will start their postseason run facing Mercyhurst who they've beaten in three of their four tilts. Two of those three wins were in dominant fashion, especially a weekend series at home where Penn State limited the Lakers to a pair of goals all weekend.
However, any Mercyhurst series comes with its fair share of physical play. Penn State should gear up for an intense 60 minutes of hockey.
"Mercyhurst relies on physicality and grit so sometimes it's hard to battle through," Kampersal said earlier this year after a 3-1 win against Mercyhurst.
Penn State will take on Mercyhurst Friday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.
