The Penn State hockey team’s brutal stretch continued on Saturday night in Pittsburgh, and so did the teams’ struggles against top teams. The Nittany Lions lost to No. 7 Boston College 8-2 in the championship of the Three Rivers Classic, recording its seventh loss in eight games. All seven losses have been to teams ranked in the top-20.

The Nittany Lions jumped to an early lead just five minutes into the first period, as a Boston College turnover lead to a Casey Bailey slapshot from the point that went over the right shoulder of BC goaltender Brian Billett. The Eagles answered before the first intermission however, as two quick goals made the score 2-1 after the first.

Boston College scored three more goals in the second period, which forced coach Guy Gadowsky to pull goaltender Matt Skoff in favor of PJ Musico. That didn’t work either, as Musico gave up three goals in the third period on eight shots. Penn State was able to score a goal with three minutes left in the third to make it 8-2, as David Goodwin one-timed a pass from Eric Scheid on a two-on-one.

“You have to give a lot of credit to Boston College,” Gadowsky said after the game. “I don’t think we took our foot off the gas…They’re just a scary offensive team, and they make so many plays. I think it’s a matter of mental toughness for us, I think that information was given to us. To compete with a team like this, you really have to have a short memory and continue to play your game, and you have to credit Boston College.”

The schedule doesn’t get much easier for Penn State, as Big Ten play starts next month with No. 1 Minnesota. The Golden Gophers come to State College on January 12 for the first Big Ten game in Pegula Ice Arena.

Quick stats:

• Shots – Penn State 33, Boston College 33.
• Blocked shots – Penn State 16, Boston College 16.
• Penalties – Penn State 3, Boston College 3.
• Faceoffs – Penn State 29, Boston College 44.