2023-24 Penn State Nittany Lions

[ZedLeppelin]

After one period of play, it's 0-0 vs RIT. Shots on goal are 12-7 for Penn State, and Penn State took the only penalty late in the period.

[ZedLeppelin]

After two, Penn State is up 2-0 on goals from Mya Vaslet and Maggie MacEachern. Shots on goal are 38-11 for Penn State, and RIT took the only penalty. That period was all Penn State, and included some highlight saves from Katie DeSa and a disallowed Katie Roberts goal on a quick whistle.

[Reddington]

Robert Morris has apparently gelled as the season has gone on and is up 2-0 on Mercyhurst. Goals from Snow and ex Laker Jersey Phillips.

Vaslet has been rolling lately.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State wins game one by a score of 2-1. This game was all Penn State, but RIT still didn't make it easy. Game two is tomorrow at 1:00 (Eastern) and also streaming on BTN+. In the other semifinal game, Robert Morris beat Mercyhurst 5-0...say what?

[Reddington]

Desa with two games in a row with 1 goal against. The trend is in the right direction Shot total on RiT was impressive, but not enough production for that total. RIT is tough to put away. If you don't knock them out, they seem to hang around and around.

Mercyhurst getting blown out is a bit of a shocker.

Hopefully, the attendance is better Saturday.

[ZedLeppelin]

Desa with two games in a row with 1 goal against. The trend is in the right direction.

Katie DeSa looked great in net yesterday, and she had a couple highlight reel saves. She doesn't seem nearly as prone to freezing the puck as Josie Bothun was, which I kind of like. If there's anything positive program-wise about losing Bothun, it's that DeSa took over late in the season when she's had to face teams already seasoned and on their game, so she stepped right into the fire and is doing well.

Shot total on RiT was impressive, but not enough production for that total. RIT is tough to put away. If you don't knock them out, they seem to hang around and around.

Celeste Brown got herself a good one in this goalie, Sophia Bellina. The announcers mentioned her aggressiveness, and Penn State could use that if they got more players in position for rebounds, as Bellina really commits to the initial shot. Well, just look at Mya Vaslet's goal...she took the shot, Bellina went all in but kicked out the rebound right back to Vaslet, and she buried it for the goal. She faced a lot of shots, but not really a lot of challenging shots, because Penn State wasn't clogging up the crease.

Hopefully, the attendance is better Saturday.

And it would be nice to see the school band show up for a tournament. It's embarrassing to see RIT's band at Penn State, and Penn State can't send their own band to a home ice tournament.

[Lindsay]

Penn State wins game one by a score of 2-1. This game was all Penn State, but RIT still didn't make it easy. Game two is tomorrow at 1:00 (Eastern) and also streaming on BTN+. In the other semifinal game, Robert Morris beat Mercyhurst 5-0...say what?

1-0 at the end of the 2nd. Grrr. Hopefully next game goes Lakers way.

[Reddington]

Katie DeSa looked great in net yesterday, and she had a couple highlight reel saves. She doesn't seem nearly as prone to freezing the puck as Josie Bothun was, which I kind of like. If there's anything positive program-wise about losing Bothun, it's that DeSa took over late in the season when she's had to face teams already seasoned and on their game, so she stepped right into the fire and is doing well.



Celeste Brown got herself a good one in this goalie, Sophia Bellina. The announcers mentioned her aggressiveness, and Penn State could use that if they got more players in position for rebounds, as Bellina really commits to the initial shot. Well, just look at Mya Vaslet's goal...she took the shot, Bellina went all in but kicked out the rebound right back to Vaslet, and she buried it for the goal. She faced a lot of shots, but not really a lot of challenging shots, because Penn State wasn't clogging up the crease.



And it would be nice to see the school band show up for a tournament. It's embarrassing to see RIT's band at Penn State, and Penn State can't send their own band to a home ice tournament.

Great point. Two games this year, can they make it three?

Good point by Lindsay on Mercyhurst. I'm not counting out Sisti's ability to make adjustments.

[ZedLeppelin]

Game two vs RIT is in just over an hour (1:00 Eastern)...here are links for the game:

BTN+ Video: https://www.bigtenplus.com/en-int/li...-state/1717084

Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=521748

[PSUfan]

Attendance should be better today -- Friday afternoon games are hard (adults are at work, kids are in school), but Saturday attendance has been strong all season. I completely agree with Zed about the band. This is playoff hockey, the band should be there!!

[ZedLeppelin]

After one, it's 1-0 Penn State on a goal from Tessa Janecke, her 100th career point. Shots on goal are 11-10 for RIT, thanks to three Penn State penalties, including a five-minute game misconduct on Mya Vaslet.

[Reddington]

PSU is up 3-0 now. Mercyhurst just went up 2-0. It looks like a game three for RMU and Mercyhurst. Gough got back just in time for the playoff push.

[ZedLeppelin]

After two, Penn State is up 3-0 on goals from Julie Gough and Lyndie Lobdell. Shots on goal are 26-16 for Penn State. RIT took the only 2 penalties of the period.

(Mercyhurst is up 2-0 on Robert Morris after the first period.)

[Reddington]

After two, Penn State is up 3-0 on goals from Julie Gough and Lyndie Lobdell. Shots on goal are 26-16 for Penn State. RIT took the only 2 penalties of the period.

(Mercyhurst is up 2-0 on Robert Morris after the first period.)

Alva Johnson is quite the screen in front of the net on Gough's goal. I'm glad Kampersal has recognized that RIT's are no match for that size. If you have to double Alva now there are 3 screening the goal.

On another note, I'm not sure how Lobdell was not second team CHA and how Retrum being up for national frosh of the year didn't make CHA rookie of the year. Alas sometimes it is tough to figure out those awards.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State wins their CHA semifinal series by a score of 4-0 on an empty-netter from Maddy Christian. Shots on goal were 37-23 for Penn State.

Mercyhurst and Robert Morris are tied 2-2 after two periods.