No. 8 Women’s Ice Hockey Wins Overtime Thriller Against Mercyhurst, 4-3No. 8 Women’s Ice Hockey Wins Overtime Thriller Against Mercyhurst, 4-3

No. 8 Women’s Ice Hockey Wins Overtime Thriller Against Mercyhurst, 4-3

Nittany Lions came back from 3-1 deficit to clinch AHA Regular Season Championship title

Author Aaron Gaberman
Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.–The No. 8 Penn State women’s ice hockey team (26-4-1) defeated Mercyhurst (16-13-4) 4-3 in overtime in Pegula Ice Arena on Friday evening. With the win, the Nittany Lions clinch the Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Regular Season title for the third straight year. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Lakers opened the scoring with a goal from Makayla Javier as she fired the puck from the slot and went into the net with 10:00 on the clock in the first period, putting Mercyhurst up 1-0.
  • Just 22 seconds later, Mercyhurst scored again with a backhanded goal off the faceoff from Marielle Parks to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Lakers.
  • The Nittany Lions answered with 9:08 left in the frame off a goal to the top left corner of the net from Maddy Christian with an assist from Alyssa Machado to narrow the Mercyhurst lead to 2-1. 
  • The Lakers answered, adding another goal at 7:10 from Jade Maisonneuve as she tipped the puck past the goalie in front to advance the score 3-1 in favor of Mercyhurst.
  • To close out the first period, Penn State added an even-strength, unassisted goal by freshman Grace Outwater as she pushed the puck into the net while in front of the goalie to narrow the score to 3-2.
  • The Nittany Lions tied the score 3-3 at 11:00 in the second period with a goal by freshman Abby Stonehouse as she glided the puck into the net while in a battle in front of the goalie. 
  • A tight and chippy third period ended 3-3, forcing overtime. 
  • With 1:16 into overtime, Lyndie Lobdell sent the puck off the top pipe that bounced in the goal. After initially being called no goal, referees verified the goal to give Penn State the overtime 4-3 win.

GOALTENDERS

  • Katie DeSa was back in between the pipes for the Nittany Lions, posting a .813 save percentage. DeSa made 13 saves to help lead Penn State to the win. Her record improved to 23-4-0 on the year which sits second all-time for most wins in a single season. 
  • Mercyhurst goaltender Jorden Mattison tallied 39 saves for a .907 save percentage in the evening. Her record dropped to 9-8-2 on the year. 

STATS AND NOTES

  • With the win today, the Nittany Lions have posted a perfect 17-0 record in AHA conference play, the only team in the nation to do so. The winning streak is the best in program history through 17 games.
  • Penn State advances to 26 wins on the season, the second most wins in Penn State women’s ice hockey history. 
  • The Nittany Lions have clinched their third-straight AHA Regular Season Conference Championship title and fourth in program history.
  • Penn State is just one win away from breaking the all-time AHA conference win mark, a record currently held by the 2012-2013 Mercyhurst team.
  • Penn State outshot Mercyhurst 43-16. 
  • Tessa Janecke dominated the faceoff circle, winning 22 of 26 faceoffs.
  • Stonehouse scored her second straight goal of the season.
  • Lobdell scored her first goal since October 12, 2024, which came against Union. 

UP NEXT

  • Penn State looks to sweep Mercyhurst in game two of the series, Saturday, February 7 in Pegula Ice Arena. The puck drops at 2 p.m.