Brian Gornick, Sports Editor
Photo//Alana Dackiw
As the buzzer announced the end of the third period, the University of Michigan-Dearborn women’s hockey team defeated Penn State on Saturday to cap off a weekend series with a sweep.
The Wolverines looked to respond from a three-game losing streak during which the team faced McKendree and Maryville. The biggest factor in the team’s woes were the lack of scoring, producing only two goals during this stretch.
The first game was on Friday, Oct. 20. Both teams had ample scoring chances with the shots 14-11 in favor of UM-Dearborn, but neither could find the back of the net as the teams went to the locker rooms scoreless at the end of the first period.
Penn State was the first to end the standstill, scoring a power play goal by freshman forward Kenna Colella unassisted just under six minutes into the period. The score stayed 1-0 Penn State for the majority of the second period, until Penn State was called for a cross-checking penalty at 17:59 in the period, putting the Wolverines on their third power play of the day.
Less than 30 seconds into the power play, senior forward Samantha Sensoli scored to tie the game, assisted by fellow senior Madison Schroeder and sophomore defenseman Taylor Spence, tying the game 1-1.
The Wolverines had little time to celebrate, as Penn State scored 26 seconds later, ending the second period 2-1 in favor of Penn State.
As the team looked to tie the game once more going into the third period, they got their goal. This time it was Sensoli setting up Schroeder for the go-ahead goal just over seven minutes into the final period. After successfully killing two penalties, the Wolverines went on the power play with just over two minutes left in the game after Penn State was called for an interference penalty.
With only 28 seconds left in regulation, sophomore forward Andi Evers scored the power play game-winning goal assisted by sophomore defenseman Zoe Zaifman and freshman forward Amy Palaian for her second career assist. The Wolverines won 3-2, and came back the next day to finish the series.
Photo//Alana Dackiw
As the puck dropped in the second and final game of the home series, it was the Wolverines' turn to strike first. Senior forward Kaylee Keledjian scored at 7:12 in the game to give the team an early 1-0 lead.
They did not have to wait long to extend their lead, as three minutes later, Evers scored unassisted for her second goal of the weekend. After the buzzer sounded, the Wolverines headed into intermission with a 2-0 lead.
Heading into the second period, the team picked up where they left off and got on the board quickly. Sensoli scored just over two minutes into the period assisted by both Keledjian and Schroeder to give the Wolverines a 3-0 lead. Three minutes later, Schroeder notched her second goal of the series with senior defenseman Paige Finley getting her second assist of the season.
The Wolverines held Penn State to zero goals for the remainder of the game to win the game with a 4-0 shutout, as well as a series sweep.
Two notable standouts from the series were Schroeder with two goals and three assists over the weekend, as well as freshman goaltender Kenna Borso. Borso stopped 25 shots in the second game of the series against Penn State for her second shutout in only three collegiate games.
With the series win, the Wolverines sit with a 4-3 record on the season, and will look to continue their success with another home-and-home series against Niagara on Oct. 27 and 28.
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