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Penn State Hockey Final Score: Lions Defeat Gophers in Minnesota for the First Time Ever

The Lions were victorious in one of the best games of the season.

By ChrisTaylor
1st 2nd 3rd Final
Penn State 1 2 2 5
Minnesota 0 3 0 3
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Penn State 8 10 11 29
Minnesota 12 11 14 37

Penn State (17-8-3) won a crucial road contest to keep pace in the Big Ten standings. The teams played perhaps the most enjoyable game of the season. The action was fast and exciting for the entire sixty minutes.

The first period was controlled by the Lions who took a 1-0 lead on Matt Mendelson's first goal of the season. The second period was one for the ages. The teams scored five combined goals to go along with a healthy amount of hitting. The game was tied heading into the final period. The Lions were able to outlast Minnesota, scoring late in the game to take the lead and adding an empty net goal in the waning seconds.

The win marks the first time Penn State has defeated Minnesota in its home arena. It also keeps PSU in the hunt for the Big Ten regular season title. The team entered the weekend trailing Minnesota and Michigan by six points in conference standings and that is how it remains.

Penn State will travel to Michigan State next weekend.

Game Synopsis

The teams played an even, uptempo match for the first ten minutes of the game. Matt Mendelson scored his first collegiate goal with nine minutes remaining in the the opening period to give Penn State the lead. Zach Saar took a strong shot from just inside the blue line. Goalie Eric Schierhorn was unable to hold onto or keep track of the rebound as it fluttered in front of him. Mendelson was there to put the rebound in the net.

Early in the second period Ricky DeRosa made a great individual effort. DeRosa stole the puck and took it the length of the ice to the front of the Minnesota net. Schierhorn was able to make the save but after the play Jake Bischoff was called for cross checking and the Lions went on the power play. During the power play PSU held the puck in Minnesota's defensive zone for nearly two minutes. As the power play was winding down, David Glen scored on a great pass from David Goodwin.

Early in the second period the Gophers had a great chance to score but defenseman Kevin Kerr was able to keep the puck out of the net, preserving the two goal lead. The puck ran out of steam before it was able to cross the goal line entirely, and Kerr was there to save the day.

Jake Bischoff answered the score with a power play goal a few minutes later to cut the PSU lead to 2-1 midway through the second period.

Moments later Tyler Sheehy tied the game at two apiece with a great wrist shot that beat McAdam on the glove side.

Luke Juha got the lead back for Penn State when he finished a pass from behind the net from Alec Marsh.

Late in the second period Minnesota tied the game up with a short-handed goal by Justin Kloos.

With thirteen minutes left in the game the Gophers took a 4-3 lead but the play was ruled offside and the goal was wiped off the books. PSU coach Guy Gadowsky used his time out and challenge to stop the game and allow the referees to review the goal. The move saved his team a goal.

Zach Saar scored the game-winning goal with just 3:51 remaining in the game. Chase Berger assisted on the play.

With 10.2 seconds left Kenny Brooks iced the game for the Lions when he scored an empty net goal to make the final score 5-3.

Stars of the Game

4-star recruit Zach Saar, Penn State: Game-winning goal, one assist

4-star recruit4-star recruit David Goodwin, Penn State: Two assists

4-star recruit4-star recruit4-star recruit Justin Kloos, Minnesota: One goal, one assist.

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