BIRTHDAY WIN FOR COACH LANTZ AS PSU ROUTS WVU 12-1

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The good thing about hockey, is once the game is over, you start preparing for the next game. You try and correct the mistakes you made and gear up for your next opponent. In the Lions case it would be an all to familiar opponent as WVU would come to Galactic Ice on October 14, 2016 for a rematch. The message in PSU's locker room, fast start, stay within our game, and control what we can control. Matt Littler would get the Lions rolling at 1:55 into the game on the power play from Mike Pilla. 10 seconds later, Matty Ice would tally his second of the game from Andrew Astrino and Austin Chase, giving PSU an all familiar 2-0 lead at the end of the first period. The message remained the same, play our game and do not let WVU dictate the game. Littler would finish off the natural hat-trick from Pilla on the power play at 1:33 of the second. 19 seconds later freshman defenseman Joe Schuler would float a shot past goalie Garrett Depippo from the point assisted from Nick Danese. 1:04 later Austin Chase would end goaltenders Depippo day as the Lions would take a 5-0 lead from Astrino and Dolan. Backup keeper Bryce Guay would not fair much better as Mike Lassik (John Breznicky)would tally 9 seconds later. Jake Shopes (Lassik and Pilla) would score his first collegiate goal at 4:27. WVU would finally solve freshmen goaltender Kenneth Mack scoring at 6:39. However, PSU would respond back and at 10:45, Mike Pilla would pick up a rebound for a power play goal, roofing it over a sprawling Guay. Armen Asdourian would get in on the action unassisted. 38 seconds later Asdourian (Lassik and Pilla) would net his second goal of the game and give the Lions a 10-1 lead at the end of the second period. Another quick start in the third period saw freshman Jon Bilek (Asdourian) bounce a shot of the goalie for an 11-1 lead. Then while on the penalty kill Mike Lassik would finish the scoring shorthanded for PSU unassisted. PSU would outshoot the Mountaineers 39-23 and freshman goalie Kenneth Mack turned away 22 of those 23 shots. "This was a complete game on our part from start to finish. We knew we let one slip away in Morgantown and we needed a statement game. When we play our style of game, we will make it very difficult for teams." The team presented the MVP Belt to Coach Lantz for his birthday. "I told the boys all week, all I wanted was a win for my birthday, and they delivered big time." Lantz would then give the MVP Belt to Matt Littler for his natural hat-trick. PSU would go to 1-1-1 on the season. PSU faces off next against CCAC for their Homecoming and Pink the Rink game on Saturday October 15, 2016.