RUPPRECHT'S HAT TRICK REDEMPTION AGAINST WVU 5-4

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Mitch Rupprecht loves playing against WVU, or at least the statistics support that theory. For the second time this season, Rupprecht would net a hat-trick against the Mountaineers. However, this time it would lead to a PSU victory 5-4. Playing for the first time this semester, the Lions would fall behind 2-0 on two defensive odd man rushes. Rupprecht (20th) from Hagan and Gricco would cut the deficit 2-1 at the 6:30 mark of the second period. Then late in the period Rupprecht would somehow weave his way through WVU defenders and the puck would slip through Connor Cross's pads, as the Lions would tie the score 2-2 after two periods. Weathering an early WVU storm in the third period, Nick Tamburi would tally his 13th goal of the season from freshman Matt Littler, giving the Lions a 3-2 lead. PSU would begin serving a 2 and 10 minute penalty for Mike Pilla. During the kill, Nico Gricco would add to his NCHA league leading scoring race (52 points) with a perfectly placed backhand past Cross, assisted by Rupprecht. Less than three minutes later Rupprecht would score his third of the game (22), giving the Lions a 5-2 lead. Late in the game PSU would give up a power play goal making it 5-3. Then thirteen seconds later the Lions failed to clear the zone and WVU trailed 5-4. The remaining forty-five seconds, PSU shut the door and earned a much needed victory, Improving to 14-3-1. Josh Snyder earned his seventh victory of the season making several spectacular saves, keeping the Lions in the game. Rupprecht had this to say about The Lions win. "We played a good game. We just had some trouble scoring. It was all around a good win." The Lions were scheduled to play W&J tomorrow morning but The Presidents forfeited to the Lions. PSU has two very important CHE games next weekend against Saint Vincent and Cal U.