Penn State Hockey

Penn State women’s hockey: Nittany Lions top Lindenwood to advance in College Hockey America playoffs

Penn State’s Shannon Yoxheimer (40) scored the game-winning goals in both games this weekend as the Nittany Lions completed a series sweep of Lindenwood in the College Hockey America tournament with a 3-1 win Saturday at Pegula Ice Arena.
Penn State’s Shannon Yoxheimer (40) scored the game-winning goals in both games this weekend as the Nittany Lions completed a series sweep of Lindenwood in the College Hockey America tournament with a 3-1 win Saturday at Pegula Ice Arena. Photo courtesy Penn State Athletics

The Penn State women’s hockey team made some more history Saturday afternoon.

Bella Sutton scored twice and assisted on the team’s other goal as the Nittany Lions dropped Lindenwood 3-1 to complete a sweep of their best-of-three College Hockey America first-round playoff series.

Penn State (17-15-4) heads to the tournament semifinals at top-seeded Mercyhurst, and will meet No. 2 Syracuse on Friday.

Sutton opened the scoring two minutes in, clearing the puck from the Nittany Lions’ own blue line directly on Lindenwood goalie Nicole Hensley. Hensley stopped the puck but lost it as she stood up and it trickled over the line.

Lyndsay Kirkham tied it later in the first period, the only goal of the weekend for the Lady Lions, but Shannon Yoxheimer put Penn State back on top 1:39 later, back-handing in a rebound off Sutton’s shot from the boards. The Penn State captain netted the game-winner in both of the weekend’s games.

Sutton completed the scoring with a power play goal, intercepting an attempted clearing pass and beat Hensley with a slap shot in the second period.

Celine Whitlinger made 24 saves while Hensley stopped 25 shots.

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