How It Happened: UMass-Lowell scored three first period goals and it was enough to hold off a late rally as Penn State came up just short. Penn State scored its first goal of the series 10:25 into the first period to tie the game at 1-1. The River Hawks responded quickly though in just under a minute to take a 2-1 lead. Adam Chaple would add another tally with just over two minutes to play in the first period to make it a 3-1 game at the break. Penn State swarmed the net in the second period, coming just short of a goal on multiple occasions, registering 16 shots. David Goodwin brought Penn State within a goal with just under eight minutes to go in the game. The Nittany Lions had a few chance in the game’s final minute but were unable to punch in the tying goal.
Turning Point: Adam Chaple’s goal in the first period to put UML up 3-1 proved to be too much to overcome for Penn State. Nittany Lion goaltender Eamon McAdam played a solid final 40 minutes after struggling in the opening frame. The two-goal lead proved to be a little too much for the Nittany Lions to overcome.
Player of the Game: River Hawks goaltender Doug Carr turned aside 37 shots and made several keys saves during Penn State’s comeback attempt.
Stat of the Game: Penn State only gave up 5 penalties all game and took almost the entire first period to get called for its first infraction. For a team that struggles to stay out of the box, the Nittany Lions did a good job avoiding costly mistakes like penalties. Penn State’s power play was perfect on the night, technically, going 1-for-2 but the second power play lasted only seconds following four-on-four action.
What It Means: Penn State hangs with the preseason No.1 team on an important night for the team and the program. The Nittany Lions didn’t win, but took away some positives from the series, especially Friday night’s contest.
On Deck: Penn State takes on Union for a two-game series starting November 30.
Live Blog Coverage
Third Period:
Action has started and we’re in for the final 20 minutes of play barring a Nittany Lion comeback. Both teams trade shots and a Penn State has a brief power play after four-on-four action concludes. Penn State is shorthanded again though following a charging call with 12:08 left to go in the game. Penn State kills off the power play and almost scores yet again.
David Goodwin slots one home after a turnover by UML and we have ourselves a game with just over seven minutes to play.
Penn State continues to pressure and will likely pull the goalie with just over 1:30 to go in the game, as soon as play allows.
The Nittany Lions can’t quite get the equalizer and UML will win it after dodging a bullet in the game’s final seconds.
Second Period:
We’re underway here at Pegula where the Nittany Lions will look to cut the deficit to only a goal. Internet issue here, but nothing to report as there is a break in the action to repair a cracked pain of glass. With 9:53 to go in the period UML leads the shot count 23-16.
We’re back to action after the nice extra intermission.
More back and forth action and Penn State almost scores but can’t quick get a bouncing puck in the net. The Nittany Lions continue to pressure with some of the best offensive momentum they have had all game. Penn State almost scores again at the end of the period but the goal is waved off after the buzzer. The period ends with the shot count in favor of UML 30-28
First Period:
Electric violin rendition of the national anthem tonight and we’re underway here at Pegula Ice Arena. Penn State with a nice first push in the opening shift of the game. Back and forth action so far with Penn State registering the first shot of the evening. Both teams starting where they left off yesterday with back and forth action. McAdam can’t control a rebound though after making two nice saves and the River Hawks take a 1-0 lead with just over 15 minutes to go in the opening period.
Penn State will head to the power play with 9:55 to go in the first period. Neither team has taken control of the game and Penn State has generate a few more chances than it had at this point last night. Eric Scheid scores after the puck bounces off the back boards and he cleans up the rebound on the left side of the goal mouth. UML gets one right back though as it is jammed home between McAdam and the post. Shots are in favor of the Nittany Lions 11-9 with six-minutes to go in the first period.
The River Hawks head to their first power play of the night and score within the first minute to take a 3-1 lead.
Pregame:
After losing Thursday night 4-0 to UMass-Lowell, Penn State will try to bounce back in the second game of the series against the River Hawks. Penn State is looking to notch its fourth win of the season, currently sitting at 3-4-1 on the year. The Nittany Lions struggled to create many quality scoring chances on Thursday night despite outshooting the River Hawks.
“It’s always nice to come back the next night and show who we really are. If we come back [Friday] night and get a win, that’s a big building step for our team,” assistant captain Nate Jensen said following the game Thursday. “We just got to be ready and prepared mentally.”
“It’s a tough loss. We have another crack at it [Friday], and I think [Friday] will be the game that is the eye-opener for us, to see how well we bounce back. When we play great teams like Minnesota and Michigan, if something goes wrong one night we play them the next night, so we have to see how we bounce back.”
Freshman Eamon McAdam will get the start in goal for Penn State. This will be McAdam’s first start in goal this season at the Pegula Ice Arena. The freshman has struggled in his two starts so far but Penn State is playing a much more complete team game now than it was earlier in the season.
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