Nittany Lions Sweep Weekend Series Against Michigan State

Story posted December 6, 2015 in CommRadio, Sports by Bria Donnelly

The Penn State men’s hockey team opened Big Ten conference play this past weekend with a sweep of Michigan State, outscoring the Spartans 10-3 in the series.

The weekend also featured the Nittany Lions third annual Teddy Bear Toss benefiting THON families. 

Friday night, the Nittany Lions opened the series with a 4-2 win and came back on Saturday to win 6-1.

After a scoreless first period in the opening game, Penn State dumped the puck deep into the Michigan State zone and Andrew Sturtz was able to pick up the puck and score an a wrap around goal just 10 seconds into the period.

Twelve minutes later, David Goodwin put the Nittany Lions up by two on a power play goal.

Sturtz then scored his second goal of the game and eighth of the season after he and David Glen split the Michigan State defenders and the freshman was able to bury the puck past Spartans goalie Jake Hildebrand low glove side.

Penn State finished out the second period on a Vince Pedrie goal with assists from Connor Varley and Sturtz, his third point of the game.

Hildebrand was benched at the start of the third period and Ed Minney was in net for the Spartans. 

With less than seven minutes left in the game, Michigan State ruined Penn State goalie Matt Skoff’s shutout with back-to-back goals from Thomas Ebbing and Ryan Keller.

“I think we sort of got it taken to us in the third,” said Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky. “They took it to us. I think we couldn’t really handle them on the wall in the third and they just outplayed us.”

Saturday night saw a big change in the Spartans lineup as head coach Tom Anastos decided to start Ed Minney in net over Hildebrand. The senior had started the last 50 games for the Spartans.

Eric Scheid got the Nittany Lions on the board first with a goal just 2:50 into the first period with assists from his linemates Dylan Richard and David Goodwin.

Exactly 60 seconds later, Scheid lit the lamp again to give Penn State the early 2-0 lead.

Penn State was able to take advantage of the inexperienced Minney and notch another goal with 2:25 left in the period. After a textbook breakout from his linemates Zach Saar and Tommy Olczyk, Ricky DeRosa was able to notch his fourth goal of the season. 

After being taken out in the third period on Friday and not getting the start Saturday, Hildebrand was given the nod for the second period.

Saar started the second period in the box for hooking and Michigan State was able to capitalize on their power play and scored 55 seconds into the period.

Penn State took a four-goal lead after goals from Kenny Brooks and Glen heading into the third period.

On a 5-3 power play, Pedrie set a rocket from just above the face-off dot, which proved to be the final blow in the Nittany Lions’ 6-1 win.

“Penn State was really good all weekend,” said Anastos. “We just didn’t have an answer for them.”

Penn State will be back at Pegula next weekend to face off against the 3-8-0 Princeton Tigers.

 

Bria Donnelly is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact, email bmd5311@psu.edu.