![](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768962552_834_Onward-State-Lion-2.png\")
\t<\/p>\nNo. 4 Penn State women\u2019s hockey (22-4, 15-1 AHA) defeated No. 12 Cornell (12-8-2, 8-5-1 ECACH) 5-1 on Tuesday night at Lynah Rink.<\/p>\n
The Nittany Lions took care of business in a rare Tuesday night game, behind a strong night from Katie DeSa in her first start since January 2.<\/p>\n
How It Happened<\/p>\n
The Nittany Lions won the opening draw, setting the tone. Cornell would earn the game\u2019s first power play just 3:41 into the game after Leah Stecker was called for cross-checking. Cornell fired four shots during the man advantage, but DeSa stood tall in the net to keep the game scoreless.<\/p>\n
Midway through the period, Katelyn Roberts stripped the puck from a Cornell skater near the blue line, and the puck found Tessa Janecke\u2019s stick, where she buried it top-shelf to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead at 10:44.<\/p>\n
Cornell responded with a push late in the frame, but DeSa stayed strong, and Penn State carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.<\/p>\n
Cornell opened the second period with pressure, and 1:27 into the frame, Shannon Pearson beat DeSa to tie the game at 1-1. After the equalizer, Cornell kept the pressure on and fired multiple shots towards DeSa, including chances from Piper Grober and Alyssa Regalado, but DeSa turned them away.<\/p>\n
12 minutes into the middle period, Maddy Christian threw a shot on net that deflected off Grace Outwater and into the net. The goal gave the Nittany Lions the lead back at 2-1.<\/p>\n
The Big Red looked for another answer, but Penn State settled in defensively, and DeSa continued to come up with saves. Avi Adam was called for slashing at 15:11, giving Penn State a power play, but the Nittany Lions couldn\u2019t extend the lead before the end of the second period.<\/p>\n
Penn State came out hot to start the third. Just 2:20 into the period, Roberts dumped the puck into the corner for Janecke, who fed Abby Stonehouse. She found the back of the net to give Penn State a two-goal cushion at 3-1. <\/p>\n
After Penn State killed off a penalty, Sophie Morrow added to the Penn State lead after she sniped a shot past Annalies Bregman to make it 4-1 with just under six minutes to play. <\/p>\n
Cornell earned a late power play opportunity but was unable to capitalize. The Big Red then pulled their goalie, but with 1:51 to play, Christian sealed the game with an empty netter, making it 5-1 before the buzzer sounded.<\/p>\n
Takeaways<\/p>\n
Penn State scored five goals on 30 shots and made Cornell pay for mistakes in transition while also dominating possession of the game.<\/p>\n
Janecke finished with a goal and an assist, while Roberts recorded two assists and was involved in multiple scoring plays.<\/p>\n
DeSa made 25 of 26 saves and looked phenomenal in net, especially given it was her first game back since January 2.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Next?<\/p>\n
The Nitany Lions will be back at Pegula Ice Arena to host Delaware at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 23. Streaming information for the game is still TBD. <\/p>\n
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