After their fourth-straight series sweep, the Nittany Lions continued to stay hot with a pair of wins over Lindenwood.
In what was a battle between Lions, Penn State came out victorious in both games only allowing one total goal throughout the weekend. With a 6-1 win on Friday and a 5-0 win on Saturday, the Nittany Lions reached double-digit wins on the season.
Slow start
It wasn’t a completely perfect weekend for the blue and white as, for the first time this season, the opposing team was able to find the net first.
In what proved to be a power-play gone wrong for Penn State, Lindenwood forward Michaela Paulinyova found herself on a breakaway, ultimately finding the back of the net. This was the first shorthanded goal given up to an opponent this season by the blue and white.
After finding themselves in unfamiliar territory, the Nittany Lions answered the early deficit with six unanswered goals to win game one 6-1.
Strong goalie performances
Both goalies for Penn State were successful in the series. Katie DeSa got the start in game one with Maddy Campbell making her second career start in game two. The netminders were able to save a total of 29 shots on the weekend.
Defensive player Maddy Campbell (45) deflecting the puck during Penn State vs Lindenwood women’s ice hockey on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Lions 5-0
Jayden Rhoney
For DeSa, this was her eighth start in her senior campaign. With only allowing the previously mentioned breakaway goal, the Pawcatuck, Connecticut, native kept her conference-leading goals against average at 1.00 on the year.
The rookie got the nod for game two as Campbell stood strong in the crease earning her second-straight shutout. However, this one was different as it was done at home inside Pegula Ice Arena. The freshman earned her first shutout against Delaware in which she only faced one shot. The Lions gave her a lot more to deal with, but the Courtice, Ontario, native remained perfect on the season.
Third line shines
The third line for coach Jeff Kampersal wasn’t changed at all throughout the weekend as the forward trio consisted of Nicole Hall, Matilde Fantin and Abby Stonehouse. Five of the 11 goals came from this line totaling 12 points in the two games.
One of the goals came off the stick of Stonehouse for the first time this season in Game 2. The sophomore followed up with an assist on Fantin’s goal later in the second period.
Hall finished the series with two goals and two assists, notching a point in both games. The sophomore gave praise to her two international linemates following the Game 1 win.
“Me, (Fantin) and (Stonehouse) have really good chemistry together,” Hall said. “I wouldn’t score if it wasn’t for (my linemates), they helped me all over the ice.”
Penalty kill remains strong
The conference-leading penalty kill unit of Penn State was put to the test three times during the weekend. The unit was successful in all three shorthanded instances, only allowing two total shots on net.
Forward Tessa Janecke (15) takes a face-off during the women’s ice hockey game against Mercyhurst in Pegula Ice Arena on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions defeated the Lakers 6-1.
Sawyer Hadlum
Contributing to that success was Tessa Janecke as she answered the early Lions lead in the opening game with a shorthanded goal in the second period of the first game. This was the captain’s eighth career short-handed goal.
“(The penalty kill unit) does a good job of swarming and pinning the puck carrier,” Kampersal said. “They do a good job of keeping it on the boards and killing seconds.”
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