LUDWIG'S SIX POINT NIGHT LEADS LIONS PAST CARNEGIE MELLON

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Less than twenty four hours after the victory against Pitt-Greensburg, the Lions were back at it against Carnegie Mellon University, in the first ever meeting of these two programs.  Playing at Shadyside Academy the Lions would jump out to a commanding first period lead, behind sophomore captain Mike Ludwig's performance.  After a tight first ten minutes, Ludwig would find the back of the net assisted by Jeff Hagan.  Thirty-four seconds later, Ludwig would score his second goal of the game.  At the 8:03 mark of the first period, Tyler Gerhold would score on a shot from the point (however, the official score sheet reads Mike Lassik from Mike Pilla and Ludwig).  Nico Gricco would score his third goal of the season on a breakaway from Rupprecht and Dolan at 6:11.  Then after a CMU cross checking penalty, the Lions would convert on their one and only power play,  as Mitch Rupprect would score his 3rd power play goal of the season assisted from fresman Max Selverian.  Penn State would end the first period with a 5-0 lead. 

All season long, the second period has been the Lions best period.  And forty-seven seconds into the second period, Ludwig would get his third goal of the game assisted by Darren "Donnie" Sereikis and the Lions would be off and running.  However, the Lions would get comfortable, maybe to comfortable with a 6-0 lead and CMU would turn up the pressure and score the next three goals.  Pilla would give the Lions a 7-3 lead at the end of the second period. 

During the second period intermission, Lantz addressed his team as playing a very sloppy two periods and were very lucky to have the lead.  "You can't stop playing fundamental hockey and doing the small basic things that make you successful.  I asked the team to buckle down and dig deep and get back to playing our style of hockey."  The team responded and Pilla would score thirty seconds into the third period assisted by Sean Dolan.  This would be Pilla's eighth goal of the season.  With PSU on the penalty kill, Mike Lassik would score his first offical collegiate goal shorthanded, gving the Lions a 9-3 lead.  Freshman Matt Littler would score his fourth goal of the season from Nick Danese.  Littler would return the favor as Danese would make it 11-3.  Lassik would make it a 12-3 PSU lead at 8:09 of the third period.  The Lions would then go into a dump and chase mode for the remainder of the game.  CMU would get a late goal to make it a 12-4 final.  Josh Snyder would get his second win of the season stopping 28 of 32 shots.  Darren Sereikis would be awarded the teams MVP belt for his hustle.

Penn State improved their overall record to 4-2 and 3-0 in the CHE open league.  The Lions will face off Sunday at 4:30 PM at Galactic Ice, against Gannon University, who just tied California 5-5 in a hard fought battle Saturday night.