Penn State (11-7-2) defeated Robert Morris (5-11-1) Saturday night by a score of 7-4. The Nittany Lions got goals from Nikita Pavlychev, Chase Berger, and Trevor Hamilton, while Denis Smirnov and Nate Sucese scored twice.

How It Happened

Robert Morris got the game going quickly scoring on their first shot of the game :27 into the game. Spencer Dorowicz netted the puck off an assist from Michael Louria.

Penn State evened the score with a powerplay goal 7:01 into the game. Denis Smirnov scored on a shot from the circle. Cole Hults and Nikita Pavlychev picked up the assists on Smirnov’s goal.

Smirnov netted his second goal of the game with 6:47 remaining in the period. Sminov tipped Trevor Hamilton’s shot on goal and then batted the puck out of mid-air past the goalie. Hamilton and Nate Sucese picked up the assists on Smirnov’s second of the game.

Less than two minutes later, the Nittany Lions scored again to make it 3-1 with 5:08 left in the first. Nate Sucese buried a shot off an assist from defenseman Cole Hults. Robert Morris countered with a short-handed goal with :08 left in the first period. Brady Ferguson scored the goal assisted by Timmy Moore.

The first period ended with the Nittany Lions still on the powerplay, holding a 3-2 lead over Robert Morris. Penn State held a 17-14 edge in shots on goal.

Penn State scored another power play goal 4:28 into the second period. Trevor Hamilton scored off assists from fellow defenseman Derian Hamilton and Andrew Sturtz. Robert Morris got another goal goal late in the period thanks to Miachel Louria with 0:41 to go in the second.

Penn State finished the second period holding a 4-3 lead and 30-26 edge in shots. The Nittany Lions scored with 8:12 to go in the game with a Pavlychev goal assisted by Brandon Biro and Smirnov.

Robert Morris’s Spencer Dorowicz scored his second goal of game with 6:17 to go in the game to bring Robert Morris back within one goal, 5-4.

Nate Sucese scored an empty net goal with 0:54 to go in the game. Denis Smirnov and Brandon Biro picked up the assists on the empty netter. Chase Berger tipped in a goal with 0:07 to go in the game to extend the lead to 7-4. Evan Barrett picked up the final assist of the game.

Player Of The Game

Denis Smirnov | Forward | Sophomore

Smirnov scored twice in the first period and assisted on fellow Russian Nikita Pavlychev’s goal and Nate Sucese’s empty net goal.

What’s Next

The Nittany Lions are off for an extended period of time and will be back in action Friday, January 5 against Wisconsin at Pegula at 7:00 p.m.