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2023-24 Penn State Nittany Lions

LBartowski said:
Um, it very obvious where the turning point was.

Here is every team in the CHA’s gameplan…hack, hold, slash, hook and do whatever you can to stop Janecke. The reason it works is that she is physically stronger than probably everyone she plays so she seems unphased so the refs don’t call it. But if she pushes or tries to get away the girls go flying off and she gets a penalty. I’m sure she is frustrated. Then you have people who just make comments thinking that she gets “herself” kicked out, like she is not a team player and does it on purpose. (Not sure how you can’t see what’s going on). Doesn’t it seem weird that Janecke does not get a lot of passes in the offensive zone? It’s because she has someone hanging off her. Then you ask yourself, does this happen with other teams? Well, with the top teams in the country, there are multiple players that are upper end scoring threats that you have to stop, so these game plans do not work against them.
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When a team has to face a player as strong and fast as Tessa Janecke, of course they're going to key on her. It's been that way all season, and will be that way for the rest of her time at Penn State. I'm more than sure she knows it, too, and by this point in her hockey career is very used to it, she knows it's coming, and she knows she has to be ready to adjust her game for it. I said she "got herself kicked out" because she got disqualified for head contact. She wouldn't have gotten a game misconduct for pushing someone out of frustration, or a crosscheck, or a slash, or tripping someone. It was for head contact, and she knows full well that head contact will get you booted every time, but that's what she chose to do anyway. She's absolutely a team player, and is just as dynamic at setting up plays as she is at being the goal scorer herself, but she's too far into her hockey career and has too high a hockey IQ to be throwing head shots. You trip/slash/crosscheck and you get yourself two mintes...you throw a head shot and you get yourself kicked out.

Then the comment, Bothum got burned so bad that she got hurt. Why did she get burned bad? I think someone else had a turnover, and Bothum did what she could to save a teammate’s mistake, and ended up pulling a muscle or whatever.
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Well...Bothun did get burned so badly that she got hurt. It was a highlight-reel move on her by the Syracuse player that probably would've burned any other goalie in any other conference, too. Regardless, I do hope Bothun is okay.
 
If Zed was not posting there would be zero posts. Bartowski thanks for posting. It's going to take some playoff wins to get to 20 games which is not ideal, but a new reality with the team stumbling. Hopefully, the staff can figure out why the yo yo results lately.
 
What I am saying is, I’m pretty sure the women are not trying to make mistakes on purpose. When you first posted, as a competitor things happen. There is no way either player tried to screw up.
 
Penn State is at home this weekend, taking on Lindenwood in two early games at Pegula Ice Arena. Both games are being livestreamed on BTN+. Penn State needs these points, as Mercyhurst (16 points) is right behind Penn State (18 points) in the standings, just one game back.

Lindenwood's junior forward Morgan Neitzke leads the CHA in goals, goals per game, points per game, shots, shots per game, game winning goals, and shorthanded goals. Penn State did hold Neitzke to two goals on nine shots when they met November 3-4, so she's not unstoppable, but she's definitely someone to watch.

Every team in the CHA has eight more conference games, so there are 16 points left up for grabs. Robert Morris (12 points), Lindenwood (11 points), and RIT (10 points) are bouncing off each other and swapping third, fourth, and fifth places weekly. Syracuse (5 points) looks finished on paper, but we saw what they can do to mess up a top team's points. Penn State really could've used the two points they lost to them last week.

Mercyhurst always peaks at the end of a season, so Penn State really needs to be consistent down the stretch. Here are video and stats links for the weekend:


Friday, 2:00 (Eastern)
BTN+ Video: https://www.bigtenplus.com/en-int/li...-state/1681824
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=481882
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Saturday, 1:00 (Eastern)
BTN+ Video: https://www.bigtenplus.com/en-int/li...-state/1681856
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=481883
 
Nietzke has proven last year was not a fluke. Maybe she will get a little extra attention like Janecke gets this weekend.
 
Josie Bothun is not in today's lineup (Katie DeSa gets the start), and neither is Julie Gough. Two defenders are playing forward today (Leah Stecker and Alva Johnsson).
 
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After one, Penn State is up 2-0 on Lindenwood on goals from Tessa Janecke (14 seconds into the game) and Briana Brooks. Shots on goal are 9-8 for Penn State, and there were no penalties in the period. The top line of Janecke, Retrum, and Roberts is skating circles around Lindenwood.
 
Okay, now there is a five-minute major and game misconduct on Lindenwood for head contact at the end of the period, so Penn State will get that powerplay to start the second.
 
Interesting line combinations. Vaslet and Lobdell have had nice years so far. Alva Johnson should have played her way off the fourth line. Stecker is versatile. Desa has four periods in a row with a shutout.
 
After two, Penn State is up 6-0 on Lindenwood on goals from Mya Vaslet, Tessa Janecke's second goal, and two from Katelyn Roberts. Penn State leads the shots on goal by 24-11. Lindenwood took two penalties and Penn State took one. Trying to watch Lindenwood's Morgan Neitzke, but she's just not getting chances or any help. She looks like easily their best player, but she also looks like she's on her own when she gets the puck.
 
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Roberts has also had that big second year jump. I expect Brooks to also have a big second year jump next year since she was a transfer.
 
Penn State takes game one by a score of 10-1. Third period goals came from Maggie MacEachern, Maddie Christian, Stella Retrum, and Tessa Janecke for a hat trick on the day. Shots on goal were 45-21 for Penn State. Penalties were 3 for Penn State and 6 for Lindenwood, including 2 game misconducts. Obviously, Lindenwood was never in this game, and basically played defense for 60 minutes. Game two tomorrow at 1:00 (Eastern).
 
Zed your CHA analysis was spot on - the games next week will be for all the Charbles with Mercyhurst. What's going on with Bothun?
 
Reddington said:
Zed your CHA analysis was spot on - the games next week will be for all the Charbles with Mercyhurst. What's going on with Bothun?
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I haven't heard anything about Bothun. The announcers didn't have anything, either, and Kampersal said after last weekend that Bothun might be ready for Mercyhurst, and maybe not. Katie DeSa looked good in net, even if she didn't face a lot of shots. The shots she did face were solid, and some scrummy stuff at the net, but she made some quality saves. That's good news for Penn State if Bothun doesn't come back next season for a fifth year.
 
mar7967 said:
Matt Becker on X is reporting that Bothun is out of the season, requiring surgery (https://psucommradio.wordpress.com/...-star-goaltender-josie-bothun-out-for-season/). Also reporting "Jeff Kampersal announces that captain Julie Gough will be out for a bit. They are hopeful to have her back for the end of the season."
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Wow. It's just amazing the announcers didn't mention this info. Bothun and Gough are big losses. Desa and Spring are going to be put into the fire.
 
mar7967 said:
Matt Becker on X is reporting that Bothun is out of the season, requiring surgery (https://psucommradio.wordpress.com/2...ut-for-season/). Also reporting "Jeff Kampersal announces that captain Julie Gough will be out for a bit. They are hopeful to have her back for the end of the season."
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Yikes...well, you know Katie DeSa is the starter for the rest of the season. Jeff Kampersal will want to get her as much time as possible before next season, assuming Bothun isn't coming back for a fifth year. Annie Spring is a senior and really has little incentive to come back next year for a bonus year.
 
After one, Penn State is up 2-0 against Lindenwood on goals from Maddie Christian and Stella Retrum. Shots on goal are 12-8 for Penn State, and each team has taken one penalty. Katie DeSa has looked great in net.
 
Mercyhurst is down 2-0 after one period vs RIT. It could go a long way if they drop a game to RIT today and Penn State sweeps Lindenwood.
 
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