No. 12 Penn State Completes Sweep Over Franklin Pierce With Shutout
No. 12 Penn State women’s hockey took on the Franklin Pierce Ravens on Monday for the second and final game of the two game series and got the victory 6-0.
The Nittany Lions came into the game 4-4-1 after defeating the 1-3 Ravens in game one. During their first matchup, they shutout Franklin Pierce and scored six goals from six different players.
Penn State started out hot, finding the back of the net twice within the first three minutes of the first period. Kiara Zanon and Tessa Janecke both scored separate goals to give the Nittany Lions the 2-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions led the Ravens 3-1 at the end of the first period. Zanon scored her second goal of the day right before Avery Farrell scored the first goal for Franklin Pierce.
Head coach Jeff Kampersal gave the nod to Katie Desa to start at goalie for the Nittany Lions. Josie Bothun got the day off to rest before the matchup next weekend against Lindenwood.
“Josie needed a rest and it was good to see what Katie can bring to us,” Kampersal said. Desa allowed one goal on 12 shots, saving 11 of the shots from going in throughout three periods.
Penn State was on the attack for the majority of the second period, dominating the stat sheet with 19 shots and 11 faceoffs won. Franklin Pierce goalie Suzette Faucher stepped up for the Ravens with 18 saves in the second period.
Franklin Pierce played with a lot more urgency towards the end of the game. However after a penalty call on Franklin Pierce for hooking midway through the third period, Penn State all but had the game sealed.
Franklin Pierce’s goalie Faucher ended the day with 57 saves off of 61 Penn State shots. Led by Zanon who had two goals on seven shots, Penn State controlled the puck for the majority of the game.
The Nittany Lions won 41-of-57 faceoffs in the game which helped set up two of the goals that they scored late in the first period and early on in the second period.
Penn State is now 3-0-1 in its last four games as the Nittany Lions continue to improve after a tough 1-4 start to the season.
“It’s a very exciting time for this team right now,” Kampersal said. “We have a good steam ahead and we have built up a lot of momentum headed into next weekend.”
Penn State improves to 5-4-1 on the season as it travels to St. Charles, Montana on Friday to face off against 0-4 Lindenwood. Franklin Pierce falls to 1-4 on the season as it continues its road trip on Friday against Stonehill.
Micheal Bolger is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email mpb6233@psu.edu.
