No. 4 Penn State’s women’s hockey (2-2-0, 2-0-0 AHA) fell to Syracuse (3-1-0, 1-1-0 AHA) 5-4 on Friday night in the Tennity Ice Pavilion.

How It Happened

Syracuse got the opening faceoff. Penn State’s Grace Tullock got a shot off early in the first period, but it was saved by Ava Drabyk. The Nittany Lions got an early power play as well due to a Stella Costabile tripping penalty.

Alara Murphy got the first shot for Syracuse, and it was saved by Morgan Stickney. The first period started hot with back-to-back blocked shots from the Nittany Lions and the Orange.

Syracuse struck first, going up 1-0 as Jackson got gets the assist from Emma Gnade for the score 11:27 minutes into the first period.

Sofia Ismael got her first shot blocked by the Orange’s Jessica Cheung as she tried to get going after a hat trick last game. Jordan Blouin attempted to go up 2-0, but her shot was blocked by Lorelai Nelson. The Nittany Lions’ Megan Hosman tried to even it up before the buzzer, but Ava Drabyk got her eighth save of the period.

An action-packed first period ended with 10 total blocked shots from both teams, six from the Orange and four from the Nittany Lions. Penn State put up 18 shots, but couldn’t get one to fall.

The second-period faceoff was won by Syracuse’s Emma Gnade. Nittany Lions Ashley Kokavec got the first shot of the period, but it was wide.

Danica Maynard had Penn State’s first penalty of the game for holding. During Syracuse’s power play, Rachel Walsh got called for an interference penalty.

Neither team executed on their power plays early in the second period. Penn State won back-to-back faceoffs, and tried to even the score. Danica Maynard’s shot was saved by Orange goalie Drabyk. Penn State put up 27 shots without a score.

The Nittany Lions got another power play opportunity with a Jessica Cheung boarding penalty. Sophie Morrow and Kylie Amelkovich both missed shots on the power play, leading to a Syracuse timeout.

Syracuse came out of the timeout with a Jordan Blouin goal, going up 2-0 13 minutes into the second period. Penn State’s Sophie Morrow responded quickly with a goal, making the score 2-1.

Morrow shot again to even the score, but it was blocked by Syracuse’s Cheung. Maynard put up back-to-back shots, but both were saved by Drabyk. Cheung got her fourth block of the game on Nicole Hall.

Lorelai Nelson scored Penn State’s second goal to even the score at 2-2 with two minutes left in the second period. Syracuse’s Cheung put up a shot that was blocked by Nelson to end the second period.

Teams went even, with 13 faceoff wins each in the second period. Penn State put up 25 shots on goal, and Syracuse’s Drabyk saved 23 of them.

Kylie Amelkovich won the faceoff for Penn State. Nicole Hall got the first shot of the period, but it was saved by Drabyk.

Lehmus got the first shot of the period for Syracuse, and it was saved by Morgan Stickney. Cheung’s shot was blocked by the Nittany Lions’ Sydney McIntosh as both teams tried to take a lead in the third.

Syracuse’s Nea Tervonen scored as the Orange went up 3-2 four minutes into the period. McKenna Walsh got a boarding penalty for the Orange’s second power play of the game. Jocelyn Fiala scored on the power play, making the score 4-2 with 15 minutes left in the period.

Alara Murphy gave Penn State another power play opportunity with a hooking penalty. The Nittany Lions executed on the power play with a Maynard goal, making the score 4-3.

Maynard tried to even the score, but her shot was blocked by Syracuse’s Nina Geric. Emma Gnade tried to extend the lead, but it was saved by Penn State’s Morgan Stickney.

Hall evened the score 4-4, 17 minutes into the third period. Syracuse’s Jordan Blouin put up two shots trying to take the lead back. Hall responded with two shots of her own, trying to give Penn State its first lead of the game.

Amelkovich won the opening faceoff for Penn State. Jocelyn Fiala scored her second of the game and got the game-winning goal for Syracuse.

Takeaway

• Syracuse had 12 blocked shots to Penn State’s seven.
• Penn State put up 71 shots, and 44 of them were on goal.
• Syracuse went 1-2 in power plays, and Penn State went 0-3.
• Penn State fell to 2-1 in division play.

What’s Next?

Penn State will be staying in the Tennity Ice Pavilion as it plays a second game against Syracuse at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 10. The game will be available to stream on FloHockey.