Lions Fight to Split Series against Minnesota
A volatile weekend filled with fast-paced play describes the showdown between No. 14 Penn State (13-4-3) and Minnesota (9-10-0) at Pegula Ice Arena this past Friday and Saturday.
Friday’s evening game was played in front of a filled Pegula Ice Arena, with attendance just edging 6,000 fans.
Junior netminder Eamon McAdam (Perkasie, Pa.) started the game off for the Lions and had his work cut out for him right from the start. By the end of the third period, McAdam had made 40 saves, only allowing the puck to taste the back of the net twice.
Head coach Guy Gadowsky was especially proud of McAdam, calling his performance “courageous” and “unbelievable.”
McAdam and Minnesota’s Eric Schierhorn were evenly matched goaltenders, as Schierhorn managed 36 saves and allowed 3 goals.
After a tense and scoreless first period, Zach Saar (Richland, Mich.) was able to start the second period on an electrifying note, notching the first goal of the game within the first two minutes thanks to assits from Tommy Olcyzk (Long Grove, Ill.) and Ricky DeRosa (Aston, Pa.).
Roughly five minutes later, Andrew Sturtz added to Penn State’s lead thanks to passes from Eric Autio and Brendan Marsh.
The rest of the period was fast and tense, but ended with the Lions’ snug 2-0 lead. The third period opened up in an explosive way by Minnesota, who relied on Brent Gates to score once in the first minute and again in the tenth.
As the teams headed into overtime, Penn State pulled McAdam to increase scoring chances. Vince Pedrie (Rochester, Minn.) made for a quick overtime thanks to his goal in the third minute, thus clinching a well-deserved win over the Golden Gophers, 3-2.
Pedrie said of his first-ever game winning goal: “Feels pretty good, not going to lie.”
Saturday, unfortunately, was a different story for the Nittany Lions, who were trounced 7-1 by Minnesota.
Starting in the seventh minute of the first period, Minnesota unleashed goal after goal upon the Nittany Lions.
Senior Matthew Skoff (McKees Rocks, Pa.) made 25 saves and allowed seven goals, and Penn State was kept to a season-low of less than 30 shots during this game.
Vince Pedrie once again came in clutch for the Lions as he scored the only Penn State goal of the game during the third period thanks to help from Dylan Richard (Sherwood Park, Alberta) and David Goodwin (Des Peres, Mo.).
“It’s Minnesota, that’s a level that I think this program would like to rise to at some point,” said Gadowsky. “This is a good reminder that we’re not there yet.”
Penn State has this week to refocus and rebuild. The Lions face the formidable Wisconsin Badgers (4-8-6-0) this coming weekend in what is sure to be a heart-pounding game. Be at Pegula Ice Arena this Friday at 6:30pm to get in on all the action!
Friday’s evening game was played in front of a filled Pegula Ice Arena, with attendance just edging 6,000 fans.
Junior netminder Eamon McAdam (Perkasie, Pa.) started the game off for the Lions and had his work cut out for him right from the start. By the end of the third period, McAdam had made 40 saves, only allowing the puck to taste the back of the net twice.
Head coach Guy Gadowsky was especially proud of McAdam, calling his performance “courageous” and “unbelievable.”
McAdam and Minnesota’s Eric Schierhorn were evenly matched goaltenders, as Schierhorn managed 36 saves and allowed 3 goals.
After a tense and scoreless first period, Zach Saar (Richland, Mich.) was able to start the second period on an electrifying note, notching the first goal of the game within the first two minutes thanks to assits from Tommy Olcyzk (Long Grove, Ill.) and Ricky DeRosa (Aston, Pa.).
Roughly five minutes later, Andrew Sturtz added to Penn State’s lead thanks to passes from Eric Autio and Brendan Marsh.
The rest of the period was fast and tense, but ended with the Lions’ snug 2-0 lead. The third period opened up in an explosive way by Minnesota, who relied on Brent Gates to score once in the first minute and again in the tenth.
As the teams headed into overtime, Penn State pulled McAdam to increase scoring chances. Vince Pedrie (Rochester, Minn.) made for a quick overtime thanks to his goal in the third minute, thus clinching a well-deserved win over the Golden Gophers, 3-2.
Pedrie said of his first-ever game winning goal: “Feels pretty good, not going to lie.”
Saturday, unfortunately, was a different story for the Nittany Lions, who were trounced 7-1 by Minnesota.
Starting in the seventh minute of the first period, Minnesota unleashed goal after goal upon the Nittany Lions.
Senior Matthew Skoff (McKees Rocks, Pa.) made 25 saves and allowed seven goals, and Penn State was kept to a season-low of less than 30 shots during this game.
Vince Pedrie once again came in clutch for the Lions as he scored the only Penn State goal of the game during the third period thanks to help from Dylan Richard (Sherwood Park, Alberta) and David Goodwin (Des Peres, Mo.).
“It’s Minnesota, that’s a level that I think this program would like to rise to at some point,” said Gadowsky. “This is a good reminder that we’re not there yet.”
Penn State has this week to refocus and rebuild. The Lions face the formidable Wisconsin Badgers (4-8-6-0) this coming weekend in what is sure to be a heart-pounding game. Be at Pegula Ice Arena this Friday at 6:30pm to get in on all the action!
