No. 4 Penn State women’s hockey (28-4-1, 21-1-1 AHA) lost to RIT (16-16, 11-12 AHA) in a 3-2 overtime thriller at Pegula Ice Arena on Friday evening.

Cassie Barnes scored the game-winning goal in overtime for the Tigers, Katie DeSa recorded her season-high saves, and Penn State fell just short of pushing the win streak to 10.

How It Happened

Mikah Keller won the opening draw for Penn State, but RIT took control of possession. Barnes registered the first shot of the game for the Tigers, DeSa made the pad save, then covered the puck to stop play.

The first scoring chance came 5:33 into play when Katelyn Roberts put the puck on the tape of Abby Stonehouse’s stick just outside of the crease. Stonehouse tried to stuff the puck inside the post, but RIT goalie Brenna McNamara denied Stonehouse from in close.

Taylor Lum took a big hit from Addie Alvarez just under seven minutes into the period, sending the Nittany Lions to the man advantage. After re-entering the offensive zone with a minute of power play time, Keller found the wide-open Maddy Christian along the left face-off dot. She ripped a shot on net, but McNamara made the blocker save.

Neither team recorded a shot on goal for the rest period. Stonehouse did ring iron during that drought, and Outerwater and Christian found themselves in a two-on-one in the dying seconds of the frame, but Christian’s shot sailed over the net. The period ended knotted at 0-0.

Penn State took the lead 3:22 into the second period after Christian circled behind the net, threw it towards the crease, and the puck took a weird bounce off RIT’s Laura Dyke’s skate, under the pads of McNamara, and into the net.

RIT responded 4:57 later, when Madison Buziak took a point shot that deflected off Keller and into the net, beating DeSa.

Two minutes later, Roberts was sent to the penalty box for interference. The Tigers created traffic around the net, and Ireland Stien found the loose puck, putting it into the back of the net to make it 2-1 RIT.

Penn State went back on the power play with 3:39 remaining in the middle period, but wasn’t able to replicate the result from the previous man-advantage. Moments later, Roberts deflected Keller’s shot just under the bar and past McNmara to tie the game. The goal came with 49 seconds left in the period and sent the teams to the locker room tied, once again.

Leah Stecker took a cross-checking penalty 4:03 into the third, but it was Penn State with the best chance during that man-advantage. Stonehouse found herself on a rare shorthanded breakaway, tried to go five-hole, but was met by the pads of McNamara.

Penn State would go back on the penalty kill less than 30 seconds later, after Outwater got caught elbowing a Tiger. RIT was unable to score on the man advantage, making them one-for-three on the power play in the game.

Roberts took her second penalty of the game with 4:29 to go in regulation for checking from behind. Just as the penalty expired, Keller and Stonehouse created a short-handed two-on-one. Stonehouse received the feed, but was robbed as McNamara flashed the leather to make the glove save. The third period ended tied at 2-2, sending the game to overtime.

Keller won the face-off to open overtime. Butze had the puck poked away once entering the offensive zone, but Stonehouse recovered momentarily. RIT took over possession, and Tilli Keranen put a shot on net that was stopped by DeSa. Play continued until Butze’s wrist shot was swallowed by McNamara with 3:14 to play.

Sophia Bellina went through her legs and was stopped by DeSa, but the puck found the tape of RIT’s stick, and she buried the game-winner past DeSa. The goal came with 1:18 to play in overtime and gave RIT the 3-2 win.

Takeaways

• It was evident that Penn State was without key players. The Nittany Lions didn’t dominate play as usual, even having to climb out of a second-period deficit before giving up the overtime winner.
• Despite the loss, DeSa made a season high 25 saves, and came up with a few late saves to send the game to overtime.
• Penn State took three third-period penalties. Although they were able to kill off all three, being shorthanded as often as they were made it tough for the Nittany Lions to set up in the offensive zone and create high-danger chances. That led to the game being pushed to overtime and the eventual loss.

What’s Next?

Penn State women’s hockey will hit the ice tomorrow to play its final game of the regular season against RIT at 6 p.m. The game can be streamed on BTN+.