The No. 8 Northeastern women’s hockey team (13-3, 9-0 HE) split the weekend with the Penn State Nittany Lions (17-1, 12-0 Atlantic Hockey America) Nov. 28 and Nov. 29.
The weekend was the Huskies’ biggest test yet, and they certainly put up a fight. While they became the first team this season to take down the Nittany Lions, Northeastern couldn’t finish the job the following day, with the games ending 3-2 and 4-1, respectively.
On Nov. 28, the game kicked off with senior forward Lily Shannon passing to freshman forward Stryker Zablocki on the right. The puck hit her skate but went to graduate student forward Jaden Bogden by the net, who knocked it in for a triumphant goal with just 24 seconds to go in the first period. At the end of the period though, shots on goal were devastatingly low for the Huskies with the Nittany Lions outshooting them 16 to one.
The pressure was on sophomore goaltender Lisa Jönsson, who played what may have been her best game of the season. By the end of the second period, Jönsson made 25 saves, the most shots she’s faced in that time all season.
In the 14th minute of the second period freshman defender Alessia Baechler had a rocket from the hash marks for her first collegiate goal. Shannon closed the period’s scoring with a sharp shot to the upper right of the net off an assist from Bogden. Shannon ranks eighth in the country in points per game at 1.64.
Right after, Penn State’s senior forward Tessa Janecke received a game misconduct and a hit from behind penalty that gave her five minutes in the sin bin.
The Huskies went into the third with two minutes remaining in the penalty, but the Nittany Lions managed to kill it. After giving up three goals, senior goaltender Katie DeSa was replaced by freshman Maddy Campbell. Sophomore forward Grace Outwater scored a goal off the faceoff in her offensive zone just three minutes into the third period, seemingly turning the tide against the Huskies.
In a scramble in the crease seven minutes into the third period, Penn State found the loose puck and knocked it over the line, the goal going to graduate student forward Mya Vaslet. Seconds later, sophomore defender Tristan Thompson was called for slashing. With only a one-goal lead and on the penalty kill, the Huskies successfully fought to keep the seconds counting down.
Shannon missed an empty net shot, which led to a risky offensive zone faceoff, but the seconds ran out and Penn State’s undefeated status was officially crushed with the 3-2 scoreboard. By the end of the game, Jönsson made the most saves of the season at 34.
The next day, the Huskies had a very different start. They doubled shots during the first period, 11 to five, and DeSa was back in the net.
Eight minutes in, Shannon found the net off an assist from Zablocki, but the goal only fired the Nittany Lions up for a raucous second period.
Just four minutes into the second period, graduate student forward Taylor Lum tied it up at 1-1. Eight minutes later, senior forward Katelyn Roberts scored off an assist from Janecke. The game turned on its head for the Huskies, who were suddenly outpaced on shots 12 to eight during the second period.
A goal from senior forward Maddy Christian five minutes into the third period dug the hole further for the Huskies to come back from. The final goal by freshman forward Mikah Keller with five minutes to go sealed the deal, ending in a 4-1 scoreboard.
While the Huskies didn’t take a sweep, the games showed they are ready for a bigger competition. Next up, Northeastern will face off against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (7-7-2, 4-4-1 HE) Dec. 2 in Matthews Arena to test if they can remain undefeated in conference play.
