Penn State Scored Early And Often Against Mercyhurst

Story posted October 14, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Justin Ciavolella

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- When it rains, it pours and as the rain cleared outside, Penn State made it pour shots and goals inside of Pegula Ice Arena.

The Nittany Lions would score early and often in their 6-3 victory over Mercyhurst.

Ture Linden won the opening face-off and seven seconds later, off the primary assist by Dylan Gratton, would sneak one by the Laker netfinder Tyler Harmon.

For Linden, that goal was the second goal and sixth point of his senior campaign as he has made an immediate impact centering a line with Ryan Kirwan and Kevin Wall.

Head coach Guy Gadowsky praised the RPI transfer for his performance thus far.

“I think the coaching staff really appreciates just the confidence that he brings to the team,” Gadowsky said. “In fact, I would say that’s probably his number one right now.”

While not as quickly as Linden put the blue and white ahead, Rylee St. Onge beat Liam Souliere to quickly tie the game for Mercyhurst with 16:12 left in the period.

Souliere, the junior goaltender from Canada, allowed three goals on 23 shots in his return after a one-game hiatus due to injury.

Gadowsky noted that there were more opportunities that could have resulted in goals, but to give Souliere “full credit for having a short memory and staying mentally tough and performing when he had to.”

The first period would end with the score even at one, but the shot disparity was just getting started as the Nittany Lions led 19-8 in that category, which ballooned to a 51-23 advantage for the game.

Goals did not flow early in the second period like they did in the first as both goaltenders held their own in the crease.

Harmon held Penn State at bay as Connor McMenamin was left alone for a short-handed opportunity, but the graduate student from Michigan made the save.

McMenamin’s lone short-handed opportunity matched how many chances the Lakers would have on their two power plays: one.

The penalty kill was an area of concern for Penn State during its sweep of Canisius. Gadowsky, while recognizing the small sample size, pointed to two areas of improvement on the kill.

“We gave up one shot, which was big, and our clears were a lot better so we actually had to kill a lot less in our zone,” Gadowsky said. “Our players were way better number one, and then I think it’s getting in sync.”

As the penalty kill got in sync, so did the scoring as Ben Schoen found the back of the net for the first time this season to put the Nittany Lions ahead by one.

Despite Souliere getting tougher as the game went on, he would allow Jonathan Bendorf to sneak one by him as the Lakers tied up the game.

Kevin Wall responded with his third of the season as the top line of the Nittany Lions continues to produce. Just moments later, Dylan Gratton would put Penn State up by two with his first career goal and second point of the night.

Dylan would combine to score four points with his older brother Tyler Gratton, who also recorded a goal and an assist in the contest. The brothers were on the ice together as Dylan recorded the first goal of his career.

“It’s awesome that I was able to be out on the ice and experience it with him,” Tyler Gratton said. “I mean, he’s been working really hard on and off the ice.”

With the period winding down, the Nittany Lions went on a power play, but with the opportunity to put the final nail in this contest, they faltered. Eric Esposito put one past Souliere while down a man to make the score 4-3 heading into break.

That was all Penn State would need as Souliere recorded nine saves in nine opportunities in the third period, by Christian Berger and Tyler Gratton put the finishing touches on the victory with goals of their own.

The series will shift to Mercyhurst tomorrow for a 7 p.m. puck drop.


Justin Ciavolella is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jtc5751@psu.edu.