‘Cuse Comes From Behind; Downs Penn State in OT

Friday, February 5

University Park, PA

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

13-13-3, 9-4-2

Penn State

9-15-5, 5-5-5

OT 1

Syracuse

Penn State

Syracuse celebrates the game-tying goal late in the third period.

‘Cuse Comes From Behind; Downs Penn State in OT

2/5/2016 10:37:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Backed behind a late third-period goal from junior Morgan Blank, classmate Jessica Sibley scored the game-winning goal in overtime for the second consecutive game, leading the Syracuse women's ice hockey team to a 3-2 win with 6.9 seconds left over Penn State. Both teams will return to Pegula Ice Arena tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

It was the second game in a row that Syracuse (13-13-3, 9-4-2 CHA) came from behind to prevail in overtime. The Orange led 1-0 after the first frame, but two second-period goals from Penn State (9-15-5, 5-5-5 CHA) had Syracuse trailing for majority of the contest.

"We are starting to develop some killer instinct and character. Tonight was a real character win for us," head coach Paul Flanagan said. "Sibley got the game-winning goal, but there were a lot of things that led up to that. Morgan, Heather Schwarz and Danielle Leslie's line really put the pressure on Penn State to come up with the second goal and tie it up."

The Orange came out strong in the first frame, outshooting Penn State 18-1. Syracuse took a 1-0 lead into the second period when it was senior Melissa Piacentini connecting on a rebound in front of the crease. Piacentini's goal came four minutes into the contest and the Orange would not score another goal until there was three minutes left.

The Nittany Lions notched the game up at one just over eight minutes into the second period, utilizing a score from Kelsey Crow on the power play. Nearly three minutes later, Penn State found itself with a 2-1 lead when it was Laura Bowman putting the Nittany Lions up one. Penn State's 2-1 lead with nine minutes left in the second period held up until the 17:18 mark of the third frame.

Blank came up huge for the Orange in the third period by scoring the second goal of her career to tie the game up at two with 2:42 remaining. Blank's goal eventually sent the game into overtime, as Syracuse found a way to get the job done.

After going on a power play, Sibley punched in a rebound coming off a slap shot from sophomore Megan Quinn to beat Penn State goaltender Celine Whitlinger on an open net. Although Quinn did not find the back of the net throughout the night, the defender finished with a career-high three assists in the win, assisting on every single goal for the Orange.

The Orange outshot Penn State 41-16 in the contest, generating more scoring opportunities to allow the come back. Senior netminder Jenn Gilligan came away with 14 saves in net, including a big save on a 2-on-1 opportunity for the Nittany Lions that kept it 2-1. Whitlinger secured a game-high 38 saves in between the pipes.

Both teams will finish out the weekend series tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. for another contest at the Pegula Ice Center. Live stats can be accessed via Cuse.com and the game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.