No. 4 Penn State women’s hockey (19-3-1, 13-0-1 AHA) fell to Mercyhurst (14-10-2, 10-5-1 AHA) 4-3 in overtime at the Mercyhurst Ice Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The Nittany Lions were just minutes away from closing the game out, but Mercyhurst pulled its goalie and found the equalizer late in regulation before winning it in overtime.

How It Happened

Mercyhurst won the opening draw to get things going. Madie Campbell stood tall in net after being tested by Sofia Nuutinen, Berlin Lolacher, and Avery Bryk early.

Penn State settled in midway through the frame and began generating looks. Abby Stonehouse and Mikah Keller both fired shots on net, while Grace Outwater had her shot blocked in front.

The game’s first penalty came at 3:17 when Tessa Janecke was called for tripping. Mercyhurst generated a pair of shots, but Penn State escaped unscathed.

Maja Alenius was whistled for tripping at 17:21, giving Penn State its first power play. Kendal Butze, Sophie Morrow, Leah Stecker, and Janecke all put shots on net, but Magdalena Luggin stood on her head. Penn State continued pressing through the final seconds, but the period ended with both teams locked in at 0-0.

Abby Stonehouse opened the scoring at 1:36, finishing a feed from Janecke to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. Stonehouse was sent off for tripping at 7:20, and Lolacher buried a goal at 8:48 to tie the game at 1-1.

Penn State answered right back at 9:57 when Taylor Lum finished a chance off the feed from Mikah Keller and Grace Outwater, putting the Nittany Lions back up by one. Another Penn State penalty sent Mercyhurst back to the power play, and once again it was Lolacher who delivered with her second power play goal of the period to even the game at 2-2.

After the tying goal, the Nittany Lions earned a power play at 14:20, but Mercyhurst stood tall on the penalty kill. Penn State continued to generate chances, but Luggin made the saves to send the game into the second intermission tied 2-2.

Penn State started the final frame on the power play after Julia Perjus was sent to the box 54 seconds in, but Mercyhurst’s penalty kill held firm.

Janecke was sent off for cross-checking at 12:08, giving the Lakers a power play chance. Merychurst generated multiple looks, but Campbell came up with the saves.

At 14:38, Janecke stepped out of the box and found Stecker, who fed Maddy Christain before Christain set up Janecke for the finish. Hanecke beat Luggin to give the Nittany Lions a 3-2 lead.

That lead wouldn’t last, though. Christian was called for tripping at 18:25, and Mercyhurst capitalized on the ensuing power play. Perjus buried a power play goal at 18:53, with the goalie pulled, to tie the game at 3-3 and send it to overtime.

Penn State came out aggressively in overtime, generating chances from Janecke, Butze, and Stecker, but Luggin turned them all aside. The Lakers answered with a push of their own, forcing Campbell to make multiple saves. Mercyhurst broke through with 14 seconds remaining, when Payton Evans finished a chance off the feed from Regina Metzler and Perjus, beating Campbell to give the Lakers a 4-3 comeback win.

Takeaways

• Mercyhurst did damage on the power play, scoring twice in the second period and again in the third to keep itself alive.
• Penn State matched Mercyhurst’s pace for all 60 minutes and traded momentum throughout the game, but late-game execution made the difference for Mercyhurst.
• Janecke and Stonehourse were at the center of nearly everything Penn State generated. Janecke had a goal and an assist, while Stonehouse opened the scoring in the second period.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will head to Syracuse to take on the Orange on Friday, January 16, at 6 p.m., at Tennity Ice Pavilion. Streaming information for the game has not yet been announced.