Penn State Hockey Defeats No. 3 Notre Dame, Wins Series On The Road

Scoring Summary

Shots On Goal

Penn State would likely have been happy with a series split this weekend, on the road, against one of the best teams in the country. Notre Dame hockey will join the Big Ten next season, so there was a little more than usual on the line in this non-conference match-up.

After a tie in the first game of the series, the teams entered the game on Saturday looking to impose their will on one another. Notre Dame played deliberately as they do so well, and methodically worked the fringes of the Lion’s vulnerabilities. Penn State threw shots on net and flew to the crease for a rebound. After three periods of play and each team having success, the game remained tied 2-2.

Penn State got on the board first when James Robinson scored his first goal of the season. The mark held up for more than 20 minutes until Notre Dame answered midway through the second period. Nate Sucese got another lead for the Lions but Notre Dame was able to tie in the third period with less than ten minutes to play.

For the final minute of regulation and the first minute of overtime Penn State was on the power play but it was Notre Dame that dominated the action in this time. After playing with an extra skater, but on their heels for the most part, Penn State got aggressive on an odd man break and put the puck in the back of the net for what may be the biggest win of the season as it weighs in the Pairwise Rankings.

The Lions return to Hockey Valley for a Friday and Saturday series versus Canisius this week.

Game Summary

James Robinson got the scoring started 4:34 into the game when a turnover in the Notre Dame zone led to a quick scoring chance. Alec Marsh held up the Irish pursuit as Ricky DeRosa kept the puck in the Nittany Lion offensive zone then got the puck to a streaking Robinson. The scrappy fourth line for Penn State cobbled together a very important first goal.

The teams skated evenly for the remainder of the first perio with each team having power play opportunities, but the Robinson goal held up for a 1-0 Penn State lead heading into the first intermission.

Notre Dame finally broke through on Penn State’s season-long perfect penalty kill midway through the second period. Jordan Gross, who scored the tying goal on Friday night for the Irish, evened the game at 1-1 with a power-play goal off a pass from Andrew Oglevie and Jake Evans. The game became much more physical during the period as there were many hard but clean hits.

Nate Sucese gave Penn State a 2-1 lead with five minutes off the clock in the third period. The freshman forward scored his fourth goal in just his fourth start of the season and it was at a critical moment for the team.

Notre Dame scored the second power play goal of the game when Joe Wegworth pushed a rebound past Peyton Jones. A penalty was called on Penn State as Wegworth was scoring the goal, and the Irish remained with an extra skater after tying the game at two apiece. The Lions were able to kill the penalty and the teams skated at even strength with under 7 minutes left to play.

Notre Dame was called for too many men on the ice with just under a minute left to play in regulation and Penn State went on the power-play. They weren’t able to do anything with the man advantage and for the second time in two nights the teams went to overtime.

The Lions were not able to make use of the power play but just seconds after the teams went back to 5 on 5 skating, a 2 on 1 opportunity opened up. Andrew Sturtz took a pass from Denis Smirnov and finished for the game winning goal.

Stars of the Game

Andrew Sturtz, Penn State. Game-winning goal.

Jake Evans, Notre Dame. Two assists.

Peyton Jones, Penn State. 26 saves, one assist, and a win.