Ice Hockey: Women's

Despite being heavily out shot and allowing early goals on power plays, the Penn State women's hockey team beat Vermont, 5-3, in the program's first game Saturday.

The Catamounts took an early 2-1 lead in the first period, capitalizing on two power play opportunities. Freshman Emily Laurenzi received a two-minute minor for tripping at the 13:01 mark of the first period, and Vermont's Brittany Zuback scored the game's first goal with 20 seconds left in the ensuing power play. Freshman Shannon Yoxheimer quickly tied the game with the Nittany Lions' first goal in team history, but a checking penalty on Taylor McGee within 30 seconds of the goal put the Catamounts back on the power play. The one-player advantage did not last long; 15 seconds into the power play, Delia McNally scored Vermont’s second goal.

After the first intermission, though, the Lions did not commit another penalty. The full-strength play helped the Lions stay on the offensive, as they scored three consecutive goals. Freshman Micayla Catanzariti found the back of the net twice in the second period, and Yoxheimer put the team up 4-2 midway through the third period.

Emily Walsh would cut the Catamounts’ deficit in half, but freshman Birdie Shaw put the game away with an empty net goal in the final minute.

Yoxheimer and Catanzariti’s led the game with their two goals. Sophomore Jess Desorcie and junior Taylor Gross, the team’s captain, both led the game with two assists.

Nicole Paniccia started in goal for the Lions. She saved 31 shots and allowed three goals as Vermont out shot the Lions, 34-24.

The game was the regular season opener for each team. The two teams will play again on Sunday at 2 p.m. Additional statistics for Saturday’s game can be found at: http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1213/boxes/wpsuver1.o06