The Lindenwood women's hockey team (1-8-0, 1-2-0 CHA) drooped the opening game of the series against Penn State (5-4-2, 2-1-0 CHA) by a score of 5-3 on Friday night from University Park, Pa.

GAME OVERVIEW
The Lions got on the board first, finding the back of the net at the 6:45 mark of the opening frame. Gigi Pora and Morgan Neitzke went to work on the forecheck and Neitzke found Kaitlin Finnegan wide open in front of the net as she gave Lindenwood a 1-0 lead. The goal marked Finnegan's first colligate tally. Lindenwood would add to its lead late in the period as Neitzke collected the puck behind the Penn State net and found Pora who buried her second goal of the season. Finnegan added another point on the goal with an assist. Julia Maguire was strong between the pipes, stopping all 18 Nittany Lion shots she faced, as Lindenwood took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Both teams tightened up defensively in the second period, as Lindenwood and Penn State compiled just five shots on goal through the first eight minutes of the second frame. The Nittany Lions turned up the pressure late in the frame, as Penn State went on the powerplay with just over six minutes remaining. Maguire and the Lindenwood defense stood strong, however, as the Lions blocked a total of 13 shots during the second 20 minutes of play, while Maguire made 14 more saves, including a pair late in the period to keep the Lions in front 2-0 after 40 minutes of play.

Penn State cut into the Lindenwood lead less than a minute into the final frame, making the score 2-1. The Nittany Lions would add two more goals in under four minutes of play to take its first lead of the game at 3-2. The Lions had a chance to stop the bleeding as they went on the man advantage near the midway point of the third period, but Penn State extended its lead to 4-2 converting a shorthanded opportunity. Lindenwood earned another powerplay opportunity late in the third period, and this time found the back of the net, as Valerie Caldwell cut the Nittany Lion lead to 4-3 at the 14:07 mark of the final frame. Neitzke and Sena Takenaka were credited with assists on the goal.

Penn State added an empty netter with 26 seconds remaining in the third period to seal the 5-3 victory.

GAME LEADERS
Finnegan (1 G, 1 A)
Madilynn Hickey (five blocked shots)
Maguire (44 saves)

UP NEXT
Lindenwood and Penn State will conclude its series tomorrow from University Park, Pa. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET.