Lindenwood women’s Hockey traveled to University Park, Pennsylvania to take on number 12-ranked Penn State University this past weekend. The Lions came into this series with a record of 2-9-1 on the season, while the Penn State Nittany Lions came in with a record of 9-3-0.
In the opening period of play, Penn State would get on the board first with a goal at 12:54 on the power play. Lindenwood would respond quickly with a goal of their own about three minutes later at 15:20. The goal was scored by Sidney Jackel assisted by Morgan Neitzke and Josey Dunne. The first period would end with the game tied at one, though the Nittany Lions outshot the Lions 8-3 in the period.
The second period saw Penn State take the lead back with a goal just 58 seconds into the period. Penn State would head into the third period with a 2-1 lead and outshot Lindenwood 26-4 in the second period.
Late in the third period, the Lions would get the game-tying goal that they were looking for with just over a minute left in regulation. The tying goal would be scored by Neitzke, and assisted by Olivia Grabianowski. The game would need overtime to decide a winner, and the Nittany Lions outshot the Lions 11-3 in the third.
2:09 into overtime Penn State would score, winning the game by a final of 3-2. The Nittany Lions outshot the Lions 51-10 in the game. Lions goalie Anna LaRose was magnificent, stopping 48 of the 51 shots that she faced in the loss.
The second game of the series took place on Saturday, and the Lions were looking to bounce back. However, Penn State would score the only goal of the opening period at 15:43 to make it 1-0. The Nittany Lions outshot the Lions 16-4 in the first.
In the second Penn State would get a goal at 5:12 to make it 2-0. However, the Lions would get a goal of their own two minutes later, scored on the power play by Gigi Pora assisted by Neitzke and Dunne. Penn State would score three more times in the second giving them a 5-1 lead going into the third, as they outshot the Lions 17-4 in the second.
In the third, Penn State would add two more goals to give them a 7-1 lead, and that would end up being the final score. The Nittany Lions outshot the Lions 12-10 in the third and 45-18 in the game. Lions goalies LaRose and Madison Bowtell stopped 38 of 45 shots faced in the loss.
After getting swept by Penn State the Lions now sit with a record of 2-11-1 on the season, and 1-3-0 in AHA play. The Lions will return home next weekend, to face off against Syracuse University Nov. 22nd and 23rd at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights Missouri.
