TROY, N.Y. – Five players recorded multiple points for the Penn State University women’s hockey team in defeating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 4-0, on Friday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Nittany Lions improve to 5-7-1 overall, while the Engineers drop to 4-6-2.
Senior captain Kelsey Crow (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka) opened the scoring at 6:53 of the first period, when she corralled a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated up the right wing boards, before beating RPI senior netminder Lovisa Selander (Sollentuna, Sweden/SDE Riksserien) from a tight angle. Helpers went to sophomore Natalie Heising (Wyzata, MN/Wayzata) and Izzy Heminger (Dublin OH/Ohio AAA Blue Jackets).
Penn State doubles its lead at 9:17 of the second, on Heising’s team-leading seventh goal of the season. Walked out of the left corner, she ripped a shot off the left pipe and in. The Nittany Lion’s second power play goal in as many chances drew assists from Crow and Heminger.
Five minutes later, Heminger made it 3-0, wristing a shot from the right point past the glove of Selander for her second goal of the year. Junior Abby Welch (East Amherst, NY/Nichols School) won a face-off to the right for sophomore Sophie Slattery (Edina MN/Edina), who worked the puck to the point. Heminger’s quick shot found its way home through traffic.
Slattery capped the scoring at 19:40 of the second, claiming a loose puck just outside the crease and flipping it into the net for a 4-0 lead. Senior Meike Meilleur (Winnipeg, MB/St. Mary’s Academy) and Welch claimed the helpers on Slattery’s first of the season.
Junior goaltender Jenna Brenneman (Eagan, MN/Breck School) made 22 saves to earn her second collegiate shutout and first as a member of the Nittany Lions, improving to 5-6-1 on the year. Selander (2-6-2) made 12 saves, before giving way to classmate Kira Bombay (Orleans, ON/Nepean Wildcats), who stopped 11 of 12 shots over the final 25:07 of the contest.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for the series finale (3pm).
