Penn State women’s hockey has had no shortage of close games through the first stage of the season. The problem is, it always seems to be on the losing end.

Through the Nittany Lions’ first three series, they are 0-3 in one-goal games. The losses include two consecutive 2-1 losses to No. 1 Ohio State to begin the season, one in overtime, plus a 5-4 overtime loss at Syracuse last weekend.

At this point in the season, Penn State’s struggles in 3-on-3, sudden-death overtime are becoming clear.

The Nittany Lions have allowed opponents to score the winning goal within the first two minutes of both overtime periods, with Ohio State’s game-winner coming at the 46-second mark. Opponents have needed only three shots to give Penn State its two overtime losses.

Correcting these late-game lapses will be a key focus as the team returns home.

The Nittany Lions take on Lindenwood this weekend, a fellow Atlantic Hockey America team coming off a two-game sweep by Mercyhurst.

Penn State head coach Jeff Kampersal highlighted the need to “take away time and space” and to “be a team that’s hard to play against” versus Lindenwood.

Lindenwood features new coach Max Gavin and key transfers such as Renee Ng, who totaled 52 points in 52 games over two years at Wilkes, a Division III program.

“[Lindenwood] look quick. They look like they’re moving the puck well,” Kampersal said. “We need to lock it down from the beginning defensively, so we can play a good offense and prevent them from having the puck too much, but they’ll present issues like Syracuse did with their speed.

“If we can focus on controlling the puck, you know, having possession of the puck most of the game, then we should be in good shape.”

For Kampersal, however, he and his team see the early-season games as chances not only to pick up early wins but also to learn and grow before the winter gets into full swing.

Many of Penn State’s key contributors are freshmen who still have room to improve at the college level, such as Sofia Ismael, who won AHA Forward of the Week earlier this month, as well as Kylie Amelkovich, Megan Hosman, Lorelai Nelson, and goaltender Morgan Stickney, who won AHA Rookie of the Week in September.

“We’re focusing on this first half — we prefer to win games, obviously — but we’re learning lessons, and as long as we learn from the losses and correct those areas, then that’s a good thing,” Kampersal said. “Then we’re building for when we get back from Christmas, January or February, to be elite at that point.”

Penn State’s series with Lindenwood takes place Friday and Saturday at Pegula Ice Arena. Puck drops are set for 2 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.