Penn State Defeats Lindwood in Regular Season Finale
Penn State Ends the Regular Season on a High Note Against Lindenwood
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Penn State cruised to a 6-0 victory over Lindenwood in the regular season finale on Senior Day.
Penn State’s offensive barrage was led by freshman forward, Natalie Heising.
Heising opened the scoring 8:58 into the game with a power-play tally and she never looked back. She ended up with two power-play goals on the afternoon and another at even strength. Heising finishes the regular season with a team-leading 17 goals and 26 points.
Head Coach Jeff Kampersal said, “[Heising] is strong on the puck, receiving and shooting, and she always has her head up and she is a pretty good sniper,” adding, “I wouldn’t say very good yet, [but] she will be.”
Amanda McLeod, Sophie Slattery and Meike Meilleur rounded out the scoring for the Nittany Lions.
McLeod put home a rebound after a point shot bounced back into the crease off of the glass behind the net. The goal was reviewed, but eventually, the call was upheld and Lindenwood made a goaltender swap, replacing the starting goalie, Lauren Hennessey with Sarah McGall.
Slattery scored what was probably the prettiest goal of the afternoon. She took the puck from beneath the goal line into the slot and roofed a backhand that went top shelf over the glove of McGall.
Kampersal said, “We tried to do a better job today of faking, shooting, trying to simplify.”
Both teams played undisciplined the entire game with Lindenwood committing five minor penalties and Penn State taking seven penalties.
Special teams were the difference in this one with Penn State killing off all seven Lindenwood power plays. Lindenwood was unable to keep the Penn State power play at bay, giving up three goals on five Penn State power plays, including quick back to back goals after a five on three opportunity for Penn State.
“The power play, which was a little frustrated yesterday, was really clicking,” said Kampersal.
Goaltending was a factor in both games this weekend. Jolene DeBruyn posted a 43 save shutout on Friday for Lindenwood in a 1-0 victory. Today it was Hannah Ehresmann’s turn, knocking away all 15 shots sent her way.
Freshman Katie Rankin said, “We all wanted that for [Ehresmann]. She’s been outstanding for us all season and sometimes when we haven’t played our best, she stood on her head for us. It’s really special for us to do that for her.”
Penn State dominated the whole game offensively racking up 42 shots after registering 43 on Friday.
Penn State and Lindenwood will face off once again on Thursday in the first round of the CHA Tournament in Buffalo, New York.
In all likelihood, DeBruyne will be back in net for Lindenwood and will pose a huge threat to the Penn State offense that looked like world-beaters today.
Kampersal said, “With DeBruyn, she is very good. She has size and she moves well, so you have to try to take away her eyes and try to have our sticks on the ice for rebounds,” and, “It is going to be a way more difficult task to get one by her.”
It is a win or go home situation for both teams on Thursday, but Penn State will not prepare any differently than they have all season.
“It’s a short week. We’ll just kind of go intense, but a short amount of time,” said Kampersal.
Penn State finishes the season 9-14-11 and 6-7-7 in CHA play, but that all goes out the window on Thursday in Round 1 of the conference tournament against Lindenwood.
Kampersal said, “We’ve got another game five, essentially, coming on Thursday for all the marbles.”
Josh Starr is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email joshlstarr16@gmail.com.
