UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State (PSU) men’s ice hockey (5-2-0) took to the ice against the University of Alaska-Anchorage (UAA) (4-4-0) on Oct. 27 in a failed attempt to sweep the series.
The first period opened up with a faceoff win by the Seawolves, which falls in line with how they performed during the first game of the series, where they were able to win a total of 35 faceoffs.
Penn State’s Dylan Gratton attempted to open up the scoring off a quick turnover, but was blocked by UAA defenseman William Gilson. However, seconds later during a net-front battle with a blocked shot from Aiden Fink, Jacques Boquot was able to notch the first goal for the Nittany Lions with assists from Christian Sarlo and Fink.
Strong play by Jacques Bouquot to create the turnover and he's rewarded with the goal!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/Z5K3FvnjsG
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 27, 2023
During the battle in front of the net, UAA’s Davis Goukler was charged with a hooking penalty, sending the Seawolves onto the penalty kill. Alaska-Anchorage was able to complete the penalty kill with Maximilion Helgeson tying up the score, 1-1, with a backhanded shot past Nittany Lion goalkeeper Liam Souliere moments after the Seawolves re-entered the competition at full strength, with assists from Porter Schachle and Ben Almquist.
Danny Dzhaniyev brought Penn State back into the lead, 2-1, with a shot skimming right over Seawolves goalkeeper Greg Orosz’s glove just over halfway into the period, matching the final score from their battle the night prior.
Third-straight game with a goal for Dzhaniyev!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/xTTcC7fVGd
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 27, 2023
Adam Tisdale earned his first goal of the season in a quick response to Dzhaniyev’s, tying it back up, 2-2.
Ryan Kirwan launched the puck toward Orosz, who made a stunning glove save, keeping the game tied. With just under six minutes left in the period, Tisdale recorded his second goal of the game, giving the Seawolves the 3-2 lead.
With five seconds left in the first period, Matt Allen was able to earn UAA a 4-2 lead after Penn State faced a defensive breakdown entering their own zone with Souliere missing the puck as it slipped by the top edge of his glove.
Not too long after the beginning of the second stanza, the Nittany Lions found themselves tying it up, 4-4, with goals from Christian Berger and Reese Laubach. Berger’s goal, his first of the season, came to be with assists from Chase McLane and Fink. Laubach’s was an unassisted shorthanded goal as Lions forward Xander Lamppa had been sent to the sin bin for slashing.
Shorty SZN!! pic.twitter.com/rvzLxiaocx
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 28, 2023
Ten minutes into the second, the Nittany Lions were sent onto the power play as Seawolves defenseman Gunnar VanDamme was charged with holding. Penn State was unable to capitalize on the power play, and almost found themselves in trouble as VanDamme exited the box. The defenseman immediately received the puck, entering a one-on-one battle with Souliere, who was able to make the save.
The score quickly fell in Alaska-Anchorage’s favor, 5-4, as Connor Marritt found the back of the net for the first time this season, assisted by Riley Thompson. As the clock was ticking to the end of the second, Penn State found themselves back on the penalty kill as Tanner Palocsik was caught and charged with boarding.
The Nittany Lions found themselves opening up the third period with 1:33 left on the penalty kill. The Seawolves brought back their two-point lead, 6-4, with a goal by Aiden Westin, assisted by Tisdale.
The Nittany Lions are granted another man advantage as Carson Kosobud is sent to the penalty box for hooking, but are unable to capitalize on the opportunity to cut the deficit. At even strength, Kirwan makes a shot attempt that ends in an impressive jumping glove save by Orosz.
With less than five minutes left in the final stanza, the Seawolves found themselves in a bit of trouble, as a 5-minute major penalty was given to Westin for contact to the head. Penn State was given the prime opportunity to tie the game back up and push it into overtime, but were unable to capitalize. Head coach Guy Gadowsky pulled Souliere with just over three minutes left in the game to give the team a two-man advantage. With 12 seconds left, Dylan Lugris, assisted by Dzhaniyev, lit the lamp, ending the game 6-5 in favor of Alaska-Anchorage.
THIS GOALIE’S ON FIRE:
Orosz had an impressive first outing in his collegiate career, seeing a total of 43 shots from the shot-heavy Nittany Lions, who amassed a total of 97 shots in this series against UAA.
On the contrary, PSU’s Souliere was not performing as Lions fans expect from him, but that doesn’t come without an assessment of the team skating in front of him.
“We left Souly out to dry,” Gadowsky said. “Breakaways, clear cut chances in front, I really feel bad for him. By no means does he take any of this, whatsoever.”
HOCKEY GODS SHOW NO MERCY:
“I am a believer, actually, in the hockey Gods,” Gadowsky said. “When you play two periods like that, and the indications that you can see nine odd man rushes in two periods is as bad as two periods I think we’ve had in a long, long, long time. It’s an indication of not playing the right way.
“Also, our shift length was as long as we’ve had in a long, long time. So you put those two things together, and there’s no way that the hockey Gods will let you win that game. The hockey Gods are too honest to let you win that game.”
UP NEXT:
Penn State takes to the ice against Notre Dame on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pegula Ice Area. This marks the start of Big Ten Conference play, as well as the final series of a six game homestand.
