2020-21 Penn State Nittany Lions

[Reddington]

Eastwood is right up there with the guy from Boston Univ. She was prepared and knew all the girls and Kampersal's coaching record at PSU and Princeton and it was obvious that she liked providing color commentary and I'm convinced she had read this column by some of her comments. PSU should sign her up for home games.

[Lindsay]

I knew you'd like Eastwood calling the game Pretty cool that she was doing it from home in Toronto - way to go, Syracuse techie people.

Very cool!

[ZedLeppelin]

Eastwood on the play by play. She is a natural. Not the game I expected and what a roller coaster. First goal to get you back in is always the toughest Gough tonight, Byrnes the game before that. Nice goal by Zanon.

I knew you'd like Eastwood calling the game Pretty cool that she was doing it from home in Toronto - way to go, Syracuse techie people.

[Reddington]

Eastwood on the play by play. She is a natural. Not the game I expected and what a roller coaster. First goal to get you back in is always the toughest Gough tonight, Byrnes the game before that. Nice goal by Zanon.

[ZedLeppelin]

Freshman forward Kiara Zanon breaks in and scores the game winner in 3-on-3 OT for the Penn State 4-3 win.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State ties it up 3-3, and now they go to another 3-on-3 OT with Syracuse.

[ZedLeppelin]

Well, that period was all Syracuse, who now leads Penn State 3-1. Penn State is playing their "offense first" game, but getting caught too far out of their defensive zone, and Syracuse is getting in behind the defense in a hurry.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State is up 1-0 at Syracuse on freshman Maeve Connolly's first collegiate goal. The stats aren't working, but there were no penalties and I think Penn State leads the shots on goal by 10-6. Just like last weekend, it's back and forth hustle from both teams for that whole period.

EDIT: Now it's Syracuse up on Penn State shots on goal 11-10, according to the on-screen graphic.

[phillydog]

Received confirmation from SIDEARM Sports that both games against Syracuse will be broadcast for free on CuseTV.

[ZedLeppelin]

Checking to see if Mercyhurst got to finally start its season today against RIT (and they did it with a 2-1 win), I saw former Penn State women's hockey player Jordin Pardoski is now an assistant coach at RIT. Wasn't she the head coach at Brown? When did she leave there?

[Reddington]

Penn State is 3-26-7 all-time against Syracuse.

Under Kampersal: PSU is 2-8-4.

Newest to oldest game scores:

2-2
2-1
1-1
1-3
1-0
1-3
0-1
2-5
1-2
1-1
0-3
2-2
2-3ot
1-2ot

I'll take 1-0-1, but the overall scoring even with the new frosh is not much different...yet.

Heising will get another year. She should have converted that silver platter pass from Gangarosa in ot. Lobdell hit a post. Gough was fed the puck by Heminger down low, but was denied. However, Bothun had a big save on a breakaway in ot. That was a good tie considering the score was 2 zip and Syracuse had a goal called off.

Scorers are streaky and Heising is no exception.

Aldoffson - she has one goal and one assist in 15 games dating back to last year. Glad she is healthy again. She might score more if she was put in front of the net like Eastwood was by Syracuse.

Don't sleep on Amy Dobson who I just read has three goals in her last five games.

[ZedLeppelin]

A couple of points after watching 4 games. The fabulous freshmen are for real. Once they learn to trust each other and develop team chemistry and not try to do too much individually they will score a lot of goals. The power play is good example of this as they stay too much on the perimeter.

I think chemistry is about all that's lacking with this freshman group. They all work hard for the full 60 minutes and just need the time to get familiar with their linemates. As good as they are at individual effort, there have been many times where a pass wasn't made that could've turned a good individual effort into an even better play. Lots of talent to work with, though!

On the back end Jessica Adolfsson is a great example of what all of them should try to become. She has a hockey IQ that is off the charts. She knows when to move the puck and when to keep it. (I hope she uses all of her eligibility.)

It was really surprising to see Adolfsson carry the puck all the way to the net against Syracuse. She's known for her shot from the blue line and her solid defense, but I guess when nobody else is moving in and she sees room, she has the green light to lead the charge. Pairing her with freshman Lyndie Lobdell is good news for Lyndie Lobdell - she's learning D-1 defense from a good one here. I already like pretty much everything about Lobdell's play - she's going to be a good one, too.

I would put Zanon in the same class as Murphy for Minnesota and Webster of Wisconsin.

Kiara Zanon is showing why she was so hyped coming to Penn State. She's on a line with Natalie Heising this season, but Heising graduates this year and Zanon is going to need somebody on a line with her that can help capitalize on her skill. Putting her and Heising together this season was a no brainer, but I don't think their individual games match up too well. They're both playmakers on their own, so it's not the usual game of just trying to set Heising up for shots. Still, they're a good combo to have on a line this year.

...this is a an exhibition season - the freshmen are gaining valuable experience for the future whether they play 10 games or 20, it is a free season as they are not burning any eligibility. Every game they play is a building block to a very strong program

Which is exactly why I wish the CHA would stop with the weekly/monthly awards. Penn State players got some of the latest weekly and monthly awards, but for what? Being lucky enough to play at all? And a monthly award in a month that saw a grand total of four conference games? I hope the players who win these aren't taking them too seriously. It's like being "ranked" this season. Some teams have been lucky enough to get a decent amount of games in, some have only played a couple, and some teams haven't even played yet. Polls and awards don't make a whole lot of sense.

[zambonidriver]

A couple of points after watching 4 games. The fabulous freshmen are for real. Once they learn to trust each other and develop team chemistry and not try to do to much individually they will score a lot of goals.
The power play is good example of this as they stay to much on the perimeter. Carrie Byrnes is a clutch player she always seems to be in the right place. Olivia Wallin has the look of a goal scorer, not the best skater but finds dead areas and has a big shot female version of Brett Hull. Ciarocchi provides instant energy and Conolly is very reliable in the middle. Gough Proesberger and Gangarosa along with Dobson fill any role that needs to be filled . On the back end Adolphsson is great example of what all of them should try to become. She has a hockey IQ that is off the charts. She knows when to move the puck and when to keep it. ( I hope she uses all of her eligibility.) Uhlien is an unbelievable skater and Lobdell has the potential to be even better than Adolphsson. Heminger is very fast and plays with her head up. I would put Zanon in the same class as Murphy for Minnesota and Webster of Wisconsin. This weekend should be interesting as both teams will make adjustments. If Penn State can stay out of the box and play 5 on 5 I think they can sweep. One interesting thing I saw during the OT was Penn State had 3 D on the Ice for a shift and they kept it in the o zone. Look at whatever season this is a an exhibition season the Freshman are gaining valuable experience for the future whether they play 10 game or 20 it is a free season as they are not burning any eligibility. Every game they play is a building block to a very strong program

[Reddington]

Love the creativity!!!

[Lurky McLurkface]

From the Mercyhurst press release
https://www.notreallymercyhurst.edu/fakenews.html

Mercyhurst puts its unbeaten streak on the line this week in a home-and-home series against RIT. "I don't want to jinx it," said Lakers head coach Michael Sisti, "but bringing an undefeated record into the Christmas break would be just like the old days."

Meanwhile, the hapless Tigers are struggling to find their first win of the season under first-year head coach Celeste Brown. "At this point, we'd settle for a tie," said Brown. "You get a point for a tie, right? I'm pretty sure."

Game times are 3 p.m. Thursday in Rochester and 3 p.m. Friday at Mercyhurst Ice Center.