Winning is routine for undefeated No. 6 Penn State.
The Nittany Lions improved to 12-0 following a two-game series sweep over conference-opponent Robert Morris on the road. Penn State dominated the Colonials on both ends of the ice, not allowing a single goal. The blue and white posted back-to-back 4-0 victories to keep the streak alive heading into a bye week.
Second line lights the lamp
The forward line of Maddy Christian, Mikah Keller and Grace Outwater has been torching the competition all season long. Their chemistry on the ice was echoed in their meeting with the Colonials, as they accounted for five of Penn State’s eight goals in the series.
On Friday, Outwater scored a goal and added an assist on Keller’s tally. The next day was all about Christian, whose two-goal first period set the tone for the rest of the game, the first goal being assisted by both of her linemates. Then, Christian added a helper on Sophie Morrow’s goal in the middle frame.
Forward Grace Outwater (8) hits the puck during the Penn State women’s ice hockey game against Robert Morris at Pegula Ice Arena on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Colonials 5-0.
Samantha DiCamillo
The second line leads the Nittany Lions in points produced, with the trio tallying 39 total points on the season. Outwater currently ranks fifth in the nation in goals, and first in the AHA, with 10. Christian is tied for eighth in the nation in goals with teammate and captain Tessa Janecke, with eight. Rounding out the tandem, Keller sits at eighth in the nation in points amongst freshmen with 11.
DeSa blanks the weekend
Katie DeSa posted back-to-back shutouts on the weekend, registering a total 31 saves between the two games. These two scoreless performances improve DeSa’s AHA-leading goals against average of 0.80 on the season, only allowing eight goals in 10 appearances.
DeSa now ranks second in the nation, behind Cornell’s Annelies Bergmann who sports a 0.72 goals against average. The reigning AHA Goaltender of the Year is now tied for first in the nation with five shutouts, also earning her 18th collegiate blank slate in Game 2.
The senior netminder now sits just two behind the program-leader in total career shutouts, Josie Bothun, who totalled 20 in her legendary four years at Penn State. Looking to the games ahead, DeSa is a shoe-in to break the record with ease as repeat conference opponents resurface later in the schedule.
Goaltender Katie DeSa (35) prepares for the action during the Penn State women’s ice hockey game against Lindenwood in Pegula Ice Arena on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Lions 6-1.
Samantha DiCamillo
Taking home her 47th career win between the pipes, DeSa will have to win the rest of the 22 regular season games, as well as at least two tournament battles, to surpass Bothun’s program-high 70-win career. However, a deep run into the AHA and NCAA tournaments will allow for regular season breathing room should the Nittany Lions’ undefeated streak be broken.
Disciplinary action
The blue and white were handed a lot of penalties throughout the series. Penn State took four trips to the sin bin in Game 1, but took a whopping 11 penalties in Game 2.
In Game 2 alone, the Nittany Lions had two members of their team sent away by the officials for game misconducts. First was coach Jeff Kampersal for abuse of officials in the first period. Then, Janecke was kicked out in the third period for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Despite spending 46 total minutes in the penalty box throughout the series, Penn State’s penalty kill unit executed perfectly. This was helped by how the Nittany Lions worked to draw penalties from Robert Morris as well, creating 4-on-4 or 3-on-3 scenarios.
However, Kampersal has been adamant about his team needing to compose itself with discipline as the more dangerous upcoming teams will punish the blue and white for taking repeated trips to the box. Moving forward, the Nittany Lions cannot suffer from being down a player or else the consequences could be dire.
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