No. 12 Penn State Women’s Hockey Defeats Syracuse 3-2 In Overtime
No. 12 Penn State (7-3-1, 1-0-0) women’s hockey defeated Syracuse (2-7, 0-1-0) 3-2 in overtime.
Katie DeSa started in the net for the Nittany Lions, saving 14-16 pucks in the match. The goal scorers were Kendall Butze, Maddy Christian, and Brianna Brooks.
How It Happened
Syracuse won the face off to start the game, turning the puck over to Penn State. The Orange quickly took the puck back over fired a shot toward DeSa, which was deflected.
Within a minute, Penn State went on the power play after a penalty for checking was called on Syracuse.
Without getting a shot off, Syracuse cleared the puck, limiting the scoring chances for Penn State. Butze took the puck and set up a shot but was denied by Allie Kelley.
The Orange killed the penalty, only allowing the Nittany Lions one shot on goal.
Syracuse took control of the puck, not allowing Penn State to cross the blue line with it. Despite the dominance, Syracuse could not generate a shot toward the net.
Grace Outwater broke off and skated the puck toward the Syracuse net but met Kelley’s glove. Janecke tried on the rebound, but the puck bounded off the left pipe.
The Orange took the puck back and adding to the momentum, the Nittany Lions took a penalty on Tiffany Hill for holding.
Despite the Orange setting up and generating multiple shots toward the net, Penn State killed the power play.
Confidence came to the Nittany Lions, with Brianna Brooks and Grace Tullock toward the net, where they both went wide. Penn State didn’t give up racking more shots when Hall came from behind the net and missed.
Alyssa Machado had the closest chance so far into the game when she skated in thus far Kelley but lost her edge. Abby Stonehouse tried to flick the puck in but was denied.
Creeping up to the net, Butze received a missed pass from Machado to fly the puck past Kelley to make the score 1-0.
This was her first of the season.
Penn State led the shots 12-6 by the end of the first period.
Syracuse took control of the puck in the opening of the second period. Penn State kept up with the defensive campaign they had started in the first period, only allowing one shot.
The Orange kept knocking on DeSa’s door until it finally went in, tying the game.
The Nittany Lions could not find a rhythm five minutes into the second period, unable to generate any offense. Luck came, though, when Syracuse was called for a five-minute major for head contact.
Outwater went for the net after being set up but met a sea of Orange defenders. Syracuse then cleared the puck.
Penn State was then called for too many players on the ice, creating four on four hockey.
The Orange had multiple chances to score, but Penn State defenders blocked each shot. Penn State killed the penalty which left 20 seconds on the major penalty. Nothing was generated from the advantage, both teams were now at full strength.
Syracuse kept up with dominating the second period, when the Orange took the puck to the upper shelf to take the lead for the first time in the game.
The score was 2-1 with five minutes left in the second frame.
Leah Stecker took a tripping penalty to put the Orange back on the power play.
Penn State could not clear the puck on special teams, allowing Syracuse multiple opportunities to extend the lead. The Nittany Lions killed the penalty.
Outwater missed a pass from Stecker to put the puck past Kelley to tie the game, turning it back over to the Orange.
Tullock tried on a one-timer but was blocked by a Syracuse defender.
At the end of the second period, Syracuse was leading 2-1 and 16-15 in shots.
The Orange won the face off for the third period in a row.
Penn State could not hold onto the puck, causing another turnover into the sticks of Syracuse.
Outwater took a penalty for slashing, giving the Orange the advantage. The Nittany Lions caught a break when Syracuse took a penalty for too many players on the ice. Penn State killed Outwater’s penalty, giving them a one-minute advantage.
Stella Retrum tried scoring in front of the net but was not let in by Kelley. Tessa Janecke took the puck from her but met a similar fate.
Machado intercepted a puck but could not get a shot off, turning the puck over.
Christian shot the puck right into the bread basket of Kelley. However, this led to Penn State keeping the puck on offense.
Syracuse was called for high sticking, giving Penn State a breath of life with eight minutes left in the game.
Janecke was set up for a shot when the Orange swarmed her. Retrum put the puck in the back of the net but after review, it was taken away for goalie interference. The Nittany Lions resumed on the power play. Syracuse then killed the penalty.
Despite having a goal taken away, Christian boomeranged the puck into the net to tie the game with five minutes left in the third period.
Penn State continued the momentum when Stecker shot the puck after a face-off, which was gloved by Kelley.
The Nittany Lions went back on the power play for cross checking, hoping to close out the game with a power play score.
The clock ran down to end the game to create a four-on-four five-minute overtime period.
Janecke could not handle her stick to end the overtime period, losing her edge before reaching the net.
Brooks took the puck from Stecker to shoot it into the back of the net to seal the deal for Penn State.
Takeaways
- The power play is still having trouble six weeks into the season. Despite having a five-minute major penalty, the Nittany Lions could not score on the five minute advantage.
- The Penn State offense fell in the second period, allowing Syracuse to take the lead. The Nittany Lions only had four shots in the second frame.
- Turnovers were costly in this game. Each turnover gave Syracuse another chance to score, which happened after.
- Discipline was an issue in this game, with a costly penalty for too many players on the ice called. After multiple weeks of improving in discipline, this game did not show for it.
What’s Next?
The Nittany Lions will once again face off against Syracuse at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 1, at Pegula Ice Arena.
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