UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Maintaining the best record in program history, the Penn State women's hockey team travels to Syracuse this weekend for its first College Hockey America games of the season: a 7 p.m. game on Oct. 31 and a 2 p.m. matchup on Nov. 1.
SCOUTING THE ORANGEAfter opening the season with a 2-1 win over Colgate, Syracuse (1-3-4) hasn't won a game, which includes a four-game stretch of knotted scores. The lamp has lit up extensively during Orange games, as they've been outscored 32-13. But Syracuse takes pride in protecting its home rink, unbeaten at 1-0-4 in Tennity Ice Pavilion this season. Leading the team offensively is freshman Stephanie Grossi, with two goals and assists each and a +4 rating. Between the pipes, junior Jenn Gilligan has started all but one game, posting a .873 save percentage and 3.59 goals against average.
RECORD BOOKS RESET After a 1-1 weekend against Princeton, the Nittany Lions have rewritten the program record books. The team is maintaining the first above-.500 win percentage in program history at 3-3-2. In addition, Penn State enjoyed a four-game unbeaten streak (Oct. 12-26), also a program-best.
H-A-L LINE HAILS OPPONENTSThe line Amy Petersen, Laura Bowman and Hannah Hoenshell has been stellar for the Nittany Lions this season, accounting for 16 of the team's 31 points this season. Petersen's stellar start to her sophomore campaign has been unmatched by any College Hockey America player, as she has a conference-best six goals while ranking second in points per game (1.00). Bowman, meanwhile, has the second-most assists in the CHA with five and Hoenshell has a pair of helpers.
UNBEATEN AT UNIONThe Nittany Lions posted its first unbeaten weekend of the season at Union, going 1-0-1 against the Dutchwomen.
In the first game, Penn State's junior class led the team to a 4-1 win. Celine Whitlinger made 21 saves for her first win of the year, while Hannah Bramm assisted on Penn State's (2-2-1) opening two markers, Shannon Yoxheimer netted the second goal, Amy Petersen got the 3-0 score and Micayla Catanzariti helped on the 4-1 empty net goal.
The series finale saw Union and Penn State trade goals for the 2-2 tie, thanks to Amy Petersen's third in as many games, and Kelly Seward's first of the year. The Blue and White took a season-high 37 shots, 18 of which came in the second period.
REILLY, WHITLINGER WIN WEEKLY HONORSFollowing a 1-0-1 weekend at Union, junior Celine Whitlinger (Garden Grove, Calif.) and freshman Caitlin Reilly (Chanhassen, Minn.) were respectively named the CHA Goaltender and Rookie of the Week. In a 4-1 win over Union, Whitlinger allowed one goal in her first victory of the year. She made 20 saves, posting a .952 save percentage. Reilly scored the gamewinner in that win and assisted on the Nittany Lions' second goal of the game. In the series finale against the Dutchwomen, a 2-2 tie, Reilly took four shots.
GOALIES PROTECTING THEIR DENThe goaltenders have been a major part of Penn State's early success. The net-protecting tandem of junior Celine Whitlinger and freshman Hannah Ehresmann posted a 1.44 goals against average and a .930 save percentage against Union. The pair shined versus Quinnipiac, holding the No. 8 Bobcats to four goals. Whitlinger made 31 saves in the first game and Ehresmann made 45 saves in the second game.
STRONG OPENING WEEKEND IN PEGULAIn its first showing of the 2014-15 season at Pegula Ice Arena, Penn State went 0-1-1 against No. 8 Quinnipiac on Oct. 11 and 12.
In the home opener, the Nittany Lions couldn't break through a stifling Quinnipiac defense, putting just 10 shots on goal in the 3-0 loss. Penn State had a solid presence in net, with junior Celine Whitlinger making 31 saves.
In the series finale, reigning CHA Rookie of the Week Hannah Ehresmann made 45 saves in the 1-1 tie. Sophomore Amy Petersen scored the game-tying goal, her second tally of the season, 3:10 into the third to mark the first time in program history the Nittany Lions tied or beat a ranked opponent.
HISTORY MADE AGAINST THE BOBCATSThe Nittany Lions made history in a 1-1 tie against No. 8 Quinnipiac on Oct. 12, becoming the first team to beat or tie a ranked opponent. Penn State has played five ranked teams. In 2012-13, Penn State faced No. 7 Mercyhurst, the Nittany Lions played No. 8 Mercyhurst and No. 9 Robert Morris in back-to-back series last season and this season, the Blue and White have played No. 1 Minnesota and No. 8 Quinnipiac.
YOXHEIMER LEADS IN MINNESOTAJunior Shannon Yoxheimer, a team captain, led by example in the Nittany Lions' 3-2 win over St. Cloud State on Oct. 5. The forward scored a pair of goals, the fourth time in her career she's accomplished the feat.
EHRESMANN CHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEKFreshman Hannah Ehresmann was named the College Hockey America Rookie Of The Week on Oct. 6 after posting her first collegiate win against St. Cloud State. Ehresmann made 29 saves in the first appearance of her collegiate career, a 3-2 win over the Huskies. She posted a .935 save percentage in her first win.
NEXT TIME OUTPenn State continues its Central New York road trip, facing Colgate on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 4 p.m.