The 14th ranked Penn State women’s ice hockey team is preparing for an upcoming two-game series against Pennsylvania CHA opponent Robert Morris. The games are scheduled to occur on Friday, February 9 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 10 at 5 p.m. at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center in Moon Township.
Robert Morris currently maintains a record of 11-17-0 overall and 8-8-0 in CHA play. The team is led by Alaina Giampietro, who has an impressive 24 points this season with 15 goals and seven assists. Maggie Hatch, the team’s goaltender, holds a record of 7-11-0 with a GAA of 2.98 and a save percentage of .925.
The upcoming games will mark the 41st and 42nd meetings between Penn State and Robert Morris, with the Colonials holding a current all-time series lead of 23-10-7. However, during their previous matchup on December 1-2, Penn State secured two victories with scores of 2-0 and 4-1.
Sophomore goaltender Katie DeSa has recently been honored as the Goaltender of the Week for her outstanding performance against Mercyhurst. DeSa’s exceptional play included a shutout on Friday and saving 40 out of 42 shots on goal throughout the weekend. She holds a remarkable 5-0 record in her last five starts, making 104 saves for a .945 save percentage this season.
The Nittany Lions have risen in the rankings and are currently positioned at No. 14 in both the USA Today and USCHO rankings. They re-entered the rankings last week, coming in at 15th. Additionally, forward Tessa Janecke is close to reaching 100 career points, having scored 93 so far. She is currently ranked 10th in the nation for points scored this season with a total of 45.
As the regular season concludes, the Nittany Lions are on the verge of securing their second consecutive CHA Regular Season title. With just one game away from clinching the title, they need to win one game or have Mercyhurst lose a game. The CHA tournament begins on Friday, February 23.
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With the impressive performances of players like Katie DeSa and Tessa Janecke, and with the team’s sights set on the CHA Regular Season title, this weekend’s series against Robert Morris is set to be an exciting event.