When Penn State women’s hockey star Tessa Janecke tied the game against Wisconsin with a breakaway goal in the Frozen Four semi-finals, she produced one hell of a “crowd pop.”

In case you aren’t familiar, a “crowd pop” is when a sporting event goes from silent anticipation to an explosive roar from the crowd after a game-changing play occurs. Typically, you see these phenomena during buzzer beaters in basketball, walk-off home runs in baseball or softball, and any sort of goal in net-based sports.

Well, Janecke’s crowd-erupting goal got us thinking, what have been some of Penn State’s best “crowd pops” over the years?

Take a look at our top 10 loudest finds.

No. 10: Tamba Hali Forces “The Fumble”

It’s probably true that the poorer audio quality of an early-2000s broadcast limits the full capacity of this “crowd pop,” but maybe that makes it even more impressive? It sounds as if the mic physically couldn’t take in any more noise after the strip-sack.

No. 9: Matt Dimarsico Sends Penn State To Frozen Four

Technically, Penn State wasn’t at home in this game, making the eruption from the crowd all the more impressive. I can’t imagine how loud Pegula would have been had Dimarsico called the game there.

MATT DIMARSICO SENDS PENN STATE TO THE FROZEN FOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/jitstMpzG5

— The White Out Report (@WhiteOutReport) March 30, 2025

No. 8: Zion Tracy Pick-6 Against Ohio State

It’s crazy how loud the sound of hope can be. Tracy reading Will Howard like a book to put the 7-0 Nittany Lions up 10-0 had Beaver Stadium rocking. STOP THE COUNT!

PENN STATE PICK SIX @PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/JpisM5PoXL

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024

No. 7: Drew Allar’s First Touchdown Pass Of 2023

Being at this game, I can confidently say the broadcast audio doesn’t do the “crowd pop” justice. It was absolutely electric. The suspense of not knowing whether Keandre Lambert-Smith caught it or the defender picked it off caused a sudden silence in the crowd. Then, Lambert-Smith emerged downfield with the ball in hand, prompting the Beaver Stadium crowd to explode immediately. Absolute cinema.

WELCOME TO THE DREW ALLAR ERA pic.twitter.com/0HnQAjkuYn

— College Football Report (@CFBReport) September 2, 2023

No. 6: Gavin McKenna Scores Game-Sealing Goal In OT

There’s no doubt that the Pegula crowd being silent enough to hear the skates scrape the ice as players moved prior to McKenna’s nifty game-winner made it such an insane “crowd pop.” His signature moment couldn’t have come at a better time.

MCKENNA CALLED GAME!! #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/f2xBY6KU1G

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) February 22, 2026

No. 5: Allen Robinson Reels In A Spectacular Grab

Going from the split-second of total silence from the crowd as Allen Robinson went up to high-point the ball, to an eruption of cheers paired with a sea of fist pumps is about as “crowd pop” as it gets in my opinion.

#PlayOfTheDay (2013): Allen Robinson's catch w/ 35 sec left at 1 yard line forces OT – PSU beats Michigan in 4OT: pic.twitter.com/qfgWXn2b82

— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) March 16, 2016

No. 4: Dom Deluca Pick-6 Against SMU In College Football Playoffs

A first-quarter defensive score in Beaver Stadium’s first-ever college football playoff game led to quite the reaction from a freezing, yet rowdy Penn State crowd. With a crowd noise advantage like that, it was over before it began for the Ponies.

PENN STATE PICK SIX!!! pic.twitter.com/Iqdm6HYGaz

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 21, 2024

No. 3: Grant Haley Returns A Blocked Field Goal Attempt

As mentioned earlier, “crowd pops” typically occur when an outcome wasn’t directly anticipated, and boy oh boy was this moment impossible to predict. Sure, the Beaver Stadium crowd was howling away, praying the kicker would fold under the pressure and miss the kick, but nobody expected a total breakdown in special team assignment for the Buckeyes. This moment actually serves as a two-for-one since there is another “crowd pop” when Haley slips a tackle and stumbles into the end zone to secure the go-ahead touchdown for Penn State.

https://twitter.com/BasicBlues/status/1956334158654910927

No. 2: Rocco Welsh Takes Down Dylan Fishback

I mean, just listen to that roar from the BJC crowd. Absolutely incredible.

No. 1 Rocco Welsh finds a way to get the job done at 184 lbs with a late takedown

The @pennstateWREST sophomore defeated No. 8 Dylan Fishback via a 7-6 decision pic.twitter.com/0ucfALW4Kl

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 14, 2026

No. 1: Tessa Janecke’s Game-Tying Goal Against Wisconsin

Did you really think this wouldn’t be number one? The packed Pegula crowd produced an ear-deafening roar after Janecke tied up the game with a trip to the Frozen Four finals on the line. Ultimately, the Nittany Lions would lose, but this was one of the most hype moments I’ve ever seen as a Penn Stater. I get chills with each watch.

Absolute SCENES here at Pegula #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/rmOVZXWItG

— Penn State Women’s Hockey (@PennStateWHKY) March 21, 2026