Penn State Looks to Close Out Season on a High Note Against RIT
Following a week off, Penn State looks to close out a historic regular season against RIT this weekend.
The Nittany Lions already clinched the CHA regular season title which is the second time in program history that’s been accomplished.
It is also the second time in three seasons as the Nittany Lions did so in the 2020-21 season with a 16-3-2 record before swiftly falling in their first conference tournament game in the semifinals against Syracuse.
This time around, Penn State has managed to clinch the top spot with a 12-1-1 conference record on the year, a huge part of their 22-8-2 overall record.
One of those ties however came against RIT in the second game of a two-game set at the Pegula Ice Arena.
RIT tied that game midway through the third period with a goal from Athena Vasdani to make it 2-2 which would hold the rest of the game.
The Nittany Lions cruised to a 4-2 win in the prior game as junior forward Kiara Zanon recorded two shorthanded goals in the first period with the first one being her 100th career point.
Zanon has put together a historic season and is currently tied for second in the country with 23 goals on the year.
Three of those goals have come against the Tigers as Zanon scored a goal in the tie.
While Zanon has led the Penn State offense to immense success alongside freshman forward Tessa Janecke who has 36 points, it has been led by strong goaltending.
Junior goaltender Josie Bothun has started 30 games on the season compiling a 21-8-1 record with a 1.93 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
As for the Tigers, it’s been a struggle this season coming into the series with a 4-24-2 record which includes a 1-11-2 mark in the CHA.
RIT is coming off a two-game series against Lindenwood where it got swept with the game two loss coming in overtime.
In a 3-2 loss, all five goals occurred on a power play which saw 13 total penalties and eight of them called on the Tigers.
That chippy play wasn’t just in game two as each side picked up six penalties the day prior which led to only one power-play goal coming from Lindenwood.
RIT has had a balanced offensive attack this season with graduate forward Amy Dobson, a Penn State transfer, and junior forward Lindsay Maloney leading the team with 13 points on the year.
In net, sophomore goaltender Sarah Coe has started a majority of the games for the Tigers this season picking up just three wins with a 2.99 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.
Following this series, both sides will look to keep their season alive with the start of the CHA Tournament at the Pegula Ice Arena in State College with Penn State being the host team.
Logan Bourandas is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.
