Penn State Women’s Ice Hockey Falls 3-1 to Merrimack at Smashville Showcase

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 12 Penn State women’s ice hockey team lost 3-1 to Merrimack in the 2024 Smashville Women’s Collegiate Hockey Showcase on Friday.

Game Highlights:

• The first period ended without any goals.
• In the second period, Tessa Janecke scored for Penn State at 4:41, assisted by Leah Stecker. This gave Penn State a 1-0 lead.
• Merrimack responded quickly. Abby Poitras scored at 12:30, tying the game 1-1.
• Sophie McKinley put Merrimack ahead 2-1 with a goal at 5:43, assisted by Maura Lindberg.
• Racie Szott sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 19:33 in the third period, making it 3-1.

Goaltender Performance:

• Katie DeSa from Penn State saved 22 of 24 shots. Her record is now 10-4-0.
• Margaux Favre from Merrimack made 35 saves on 36 shots, improving her record to 4-5-0.

Stats and Notes:

• Janecke scored her 50th career goal, ranking third all-time for Penn State. She also gained her 124th point, 13 behind the all-time leader, Natalie Heising.
• This loss marks Penn State’s first since October 25.
• Merrimack leads the all-time series 3-1-1 against Penn State.
• This is the first time since October 12 that a team scored three goals against Penn State.
• This is also Penn State’s first loss to an unranked opponent this season.
• Penn State has scored at least one power-play goal in six consecutive games.

Next Game:

Penn State will play the loser of the Clarkson/St. Thomas game on Saturday, November 30, at 1 p.m. ET.