No. 12 Penn State women’s hockey (9-5-1) dominated Brown (3-3-1) 3-0 to open its two-game home series against the Bears on Sunday night at Pegula Ice Arena.

Starting the game strong, the Nittany Lions were able to take a 1-0 lead from Olivia Wallin and expand it in the second period to 3-0. Penn State parked the bus throughout the third period, only allowing Brown three shots in the final frame, and secured the shutout.

How It Happened

Josie Bothun started her 68th consecutive game for Penn State, while Kaley Doyle tended the goal for Brown, and senior Julie Gough was promoted to the first line to skate alongside Tessa Janecke and Kiara Zanon.

After winning the opening draw, the Nittany Lions went to work in the offensive end, battling hard in the corners and aggressively pouncing on the forecheck. While looks on goal were generated for the blue and white, Brown clogged the shooting lanes and blocked an open opportunity from Gough.

The Bears were able to make Bothun work early in the period and forced the junior goalie to make a tough blocker save through a two-player screen. Brown claimed eight of the first ten shots on goal.

While Bothun and Penn State looked solid on defense, the Nittany Lions struggled to maintain offensive pressure and iced the puck on a majority of their breakout attempts throughout the period.

Finally able to possess the puck in the offensive end, Penn State threatened a dangerous rebound as Doyle was out of possession, but Janecke was hooked by Maya Mangiafico before she was able to get the shot off, putting the Nittany Lions on the power play. Twenty seconds into the advantage, Eleri MacKay put the puck on net from the corner. In the chaos, Olivia Wallin punched the puck through the scrum and scored a gritty opening goal.

Penn State was able to ride the momentum of its lead and close the period without conceding another shot, as the game went to intermission 1-0.

The Nittany Lions won the center draw to start the second frame and were able to generate a flurry of shots on goal. As the puck rebounded toward the corner, Mya Vaslet was able to gain possession and zip the puck to a wide-open Alyssa Machado for her fourth goal of the season.

After a big collision behind the cage, Karley Garcia was assessed a minor boarding penalty and the Nittany Lions went on the penalty kill. Only giving up one shot, the defense stifled Brown’s set pieces and cleared the puck often to get back to full strength.

As the period wore on, Penn State was able to slowly close the shot gap, and as if on cue, scored as they knotted up the box column at 14 apiece, this one coming off of a ridiculous bar-down snipe by Janecke for her 11th goal of the season.

As the game entered the third period, the Nittany Lions found themselves on the powerplay after Jade Iginla, daughter of NHL hall-of-famer Jarome Iginla, was caught hooking. Penn State’s advantage was extended to a long 5-on-3 opportunity after Anna Hurd was sent to the bin for tripping. As the blue and white offensive poked and prodded the trio of Brown Bears, it forced Doyle to come up big on multiple back-door chances. Both penalties expired and the game remained 3-0.

The game continued without many stoppages, as Penn State generated plenty of shots on goal and mitigated most of Brown’s attempts to clear the zone.

The Nittany Lions found themselves in penalty trouble halfway through the third period, as defenseman Karley Garcia was given a 2-and-10 punishment for hooking and misconduct. The Penn State penalty kill continued its dominance, though, as it once again allowed zero shots on goal. The Nittany Lions were back to full strength, as Maeve Connolly finished serving the hooking penalty in Garcia’s stead, with the latter resigned to the sin bin for the rest of regulation.

The Nittany Lions were able to close out the game and complete Bothun’s third shutout of the season.

Takeaways

• Penn State crushed their opponents on the faceoff circle this game, going 33-for-44. Every center that took a draw managed a win percentage above 75%.
• Throughout the game, Penn State was unable to gain the offensive zone in settled situations. Brown’s patient 1-1-3 forecheck, where the Bears strung three defensemen across the blue line, was able to sit back and wall off the attacking third. Coach Kampersal and his squad will have to get creative in their next meeting to overcome this system.
• The Nittany Lions are proving to be a stifling defense, holding their opponents under 20 shots for the fourth game this year and setting up Josie Bothun for her third shutout of the season.

What’s Next

The Nittany Lions will return to Pegula Ice Arena Monday, November 14, to conclude their homestand against Brown. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m.