Start the Music: Penn State Sweeps Lindenwood Advancing to First Ever CHA Championship Game
Penn State’s season is set to continue into next week following a 7-1 win over Lindenwood to clinch a spot in the CHA Championship on the back of a Tessa Janecke hat trick.
The win gave the Nittany Lions a series sweep over the Lions in the best-of-three series.
Penn State will now await the winner of the Syracuse-Mercyhurst series for its opponent in the winner-take-all game.
The blue and white came out firing early, recording the games first 11 shots but it wouldn’t be until freshman defender Kendall Butze converted on a power play goal to give the Nittany Lions an early lead.
Butze’s second career goal wasn’t the only goal of the period for the Nittany Lions, it wasn’t even the only power play goal.
Junior forward Kiara Zanon found the back of the net just three minutes left into the period for goal No. 25 on the season.
That made it 2-0 Penn State and sophomore forward Lexi Bedier made it 3-0 less than a minute later, this time on even strength.
Penn State would extend on that lead less than seven minutes into the second period as freshman forward Tessa Janecke continued her outstanding season with goal No. 20 on the season.
With less than a minute in the period, Alyssa Machado would get a goal off a rebound chance from Bedier to add onto the Penn State goal party.
Following a break for intermission, Penn State fans would only have to wait 11 seconds for the first goal of the third period as Janecke scored yet again to make it 6-0 Nittany Lions.
Janecke would connect again just five minutes later for her first collegiate hat trick to give Penn State the touchdown and 7-0 lead.
That’s also good enough for the second postseason hat trick in Penn State history.
Lindenwood would add on a late-goal in the third period as Chloe Corbin would score her second goal of the season but it wouldn’t be enough.
Penn State closed out the 7-1 victory advancing to the CHA Championship game which for head coach Jeff Kampersal feels like a long time coming.
“It’s cliche but it’s a process,” Kampersal said. “Trying to get the culture right along with talented players but the most important piece is having a good culture and having the players set the standard.”
One of those talented players that Kampersal was able to add has been Janecke whose hat trick came at just the right time for the blue and white.
Janecke mentioned that the hat trick doesn’t happen without the work from the rest of her team.
“It doesn’t happen without the teammates,” Janecke said. “To have them and building that chemistry has been a big part of this year.”
Penn State will host the CHA Championship on Saturday with a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
Logan Bourandas is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.
