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| Meg Lydick made 31 saves in her first career shutout |
It was a game that, in some sense, counts for literal nothing. But that's only if you're trying to find it on collegehockeystats.net and not in the first victorious Penn State locker room since November 20th to experience the beat of Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl and a newfound energy throughout the locker room.
Third-period goals by Kelly Watson, Tarika Embar and Rachel Cole broke a scoreless deadlock entering the frame and delivered a first career shutout for Meg Lydick, as the Lady Ice Lions topped NCAA Division III Lebanon Valley in an exhibition contest on Saturday night in Pegula Ice Arena.
The victory boosted PSU's season mark to 4-16-1 and snapped an eight-game winless skid, dating to the aforementioned November contest at Northeastern.
This time, much like that time, the result was far from preordained, as the teams produced a fast-moving 40 minutes of stalemate. Penn State, largely, was the better team for the first period, outshooting the Dutchmen 18-9, while LVC struck back with a 12-4 advantage in the next frame. Through it all, goalies Lydick, Alexa Kanakry and Victoria Lahey (Lebanon Valley swapped goalies midway through regulation time) kept their respective nets clean.
However, the Lady Ice Lions were not about to let another potential win fall by the wayside, as they felt happened in the series-opening draw on Friday.
It took just 1:51 of the final period for Watson to shovel a rebound high past Lahey, and another 1:39 after that for Embar to deliver her first goal of the season and the third of her career in front, off of a Darian Dempsey helper.
Cole capped the victory in style on a play where she circled to the slot - a play that's quickly becoming her trademark, as it helped produce Rachel Kapoian's power play goal on Friday - and buried into the top corner.
Lydick closed with 31 saves for her first bagel, as she enjoyed a relatively light workload compared to some she's seen this season. There were just three penalties called in the contest, all to Penn State.
Up next, the Lady Ice Lions will attempt to keep their newfound momentum going in resuming ACHA play next weekend, on Friday and Saturday, with both matches set to start at 9:00 p.m. in Pegula Ice Arena. The second game will stand as PSU's annual senior night, with departing players Dempsey, Lucy Yeatman, Cassie Dunne, Anna Marcus, Jordan Chiavacci being honored.
Box Score
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First Period |
|---|
Scoring |
None. |
Penalties |
None. |
Second Period |
Scoring |
None. |
Penalties |
1. Penn State, Tarika Embar (2:00 tripping), 12:58. |
Third Period |
Scoring |
1. Penn State, Kelly Watson (unassisted), 18:09; 2. Penn State, Tarika Embar (Darian Dempsey), 16:30; 3. Penn State, Rachel Cole (unassisted), 2:57. |
Penalties |
2. Penn State, Katelyn Trask (2:00 hooking), 12:16; 3. Penn State, Darian Dempsey (2:00 interference), 1:10. |
Goaltending |
Penn State: Meg Lydick: W, 31 saves/31 shots; Lebanon Valley: Alexa Kanakry: 20 saves/20 shots; Victoria Lahey (8:55 2nd): 10 saves/13 shots. |
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