No. 12 Women’s Hockey Drops Smashville Opener to Merrimack, 3-1 – Penn State

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–The No. 12 Penn State women’s ice hockey team (13-4-0 overall) dropped the opening game of the 2024 Smashville Women’s Collegiate Hockey Showcase 3-1, against Merrimack (5-9-1 overall) on Friday afternoon. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless opening period, Tessa Janecke found the back of the net on the power-play off a shot from the right corner by Leah Stecker which landed into her stick from the slot to put Penn State ahead 1-0, 4:41 into the second frame.
• Merrimack quickly answered, with 12:30 remaining in the frame as a shot from the point by Abby Poitras slipped into the Penn State net to even the score at 1-1. 
• With 5:43 left in the period, Sophie McKinley scored a goal in the slot off an assist by Maura Lindberg who found McKinely from the top left circle to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. 
• With 27 seconds remaining in the third frame, Racie Szott scored with an empty-net goal as she fired her shot from the opposite end of the ice to give Merrimack the 3-1 lead and the victory. 

GOALTENDERS

• Junior goalie Katie DeSa made 22 saves on 24 shots. Her record drops to 10-4-0 on the year. The loss is her first since October 25. 
• Merrimack goalie Margaux Favre recorded 35 saves on 36 shots attempted. Her record improves to 4-5-0 on the season. 

STATS AND NOTES

• Janecke recorded her 50th career goal, which places her third all-time in program history in goals. She also tallied her 124th point, which places her 13 points behind the all-time leader in Natalie Heising. 
• This is Penn State’s first loss since October 25 when they fell to Cornell 2-0. 
• Merrimack currently leads the all-time series 3-1-1. 
• This is the first time since October 12 a team has scored three or more goals against Penn State. 
• This is Penn State’s first loss against an unranked opponent this season. 
• Penn State has scored at least one power-play goal in six straight games. 

UP NEXT

• Penn State returns to action on Saturday, November 30, where they will face the loser of the Clarkson/St. Thomas game. Puck-drop is set for 1 p.m. ET.