Women’s Hockey Sweeps No. 6 Mercyhurst
Penn State (10-7-3, 5-4-1 CHA) completed the series sweep over Mercyhurst (16-4-2, 7-3-0 CHA) with a 5-3 win Saturday afternoon at Pegula Ice Arena.
Mercyhurst wasted no time finding the net, scoring just over a minute into the game. Junior Jenna Dingeldein was able to put it past freshman goalie Hannah Ehresmann for her eleventh goal of the season.
The Lakers were able to increase their lead to two in the third minute when junior Emily Janiga shot one into the top corner. After an official review, the goal stood and Mercyhurst had a seemingly comfortable lead.
The Mercyhurst two-point lead didn’t last for long, though, as sophomore Laura Bowman brought the puck down the ice and scored for Penn State 30 seconds later.
“They are so resilient, playing against the number six team in the country, to take that blow early, and never waiver,” said head coach Josh Brandwene. “To stick with the game plan, with poise and patience throughout the course of the game, that‘s a big time effort from our hockey team.”
Bowman had a chance to tie the game up a few minutes later when Mercyhurst goalie Amanda Makela went behind the goal, leaving an open net. Bowman raced to the net to steal the puck from a Lakers defender, but her shot hit the outside left pipe.
The Lakers dominated puck possession early in the second period. They were able to prevent Penn State from making any moves with the puck for most of the first half of the period.
Penn State was finally able get the puck and tie it up halfway through the second period off a Caitlin Reilly goal. The freshman was able to slot it in thanks to an assist from Kelly Seward.
The Nittany Lions saw their first lead of the game in the third period on a power play goal by junior Hannah Bramm, who shot it in unassisted with 15 minutes left to play.
Mercyhurst was relentless in their offensive attack after the goal, and was able to tack on another goal with just under 10 minutes left. Janiga got the puck past Ehresmann again to tie the game at three.
Penn State regained the lead off another Bowman goal with two minutes left to play. She shot it right at the goalie, but it trickled through her legs and got over the line.
After a late Mercyhurst timeout and with their goalie pulled, Bowman was able to secure a hat trick, and the win, with a last second goal on the open net.
“It doesn’t matter who puts it [the puck] in as long as we’re putting more in than they do,” Bowman said when asked about her new role of scoring goals rather than assisting them.
The Lady Lions have some time off before their next game, which is Saturday, Jan. 3 against Ohio State at Pegula Ice Arena.
Anna Pitingolo is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email anna.piting@gmail.com.
