Millersville’s Dylan Schroeder bows his head as he prepares for the third period. DEBORAH PHILLIPS / SNAPPER
Katelyn Auty
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Associate Sports Editor
Millersville D2 Ice Hockey lost to Penn State during their Homecoming game on Friday night.
Penn State scored two goals within two minutes early in the first period, giving them a 2-0 lead. Two early goals can get to you, but Millersville’s goalie Dylan Schroeder didn’t let it. Instead, it seemed to motivate him to keep the puck out of the net even more. The rink was full of tension as Millersville worked tirelessly to hold off the Nittany Lions through the rest of the period, allowing no goals in the final 15 minutes of the first.
The second period was a good one for the Marauders, as Joe Pedicone, assisted by Ben Bell, picked his way through Penn State’s defense to score Millersville’s first and only goal of the game. Morale was high after the goal, as Millersville hoped to tie up the game.
“I’d say we had a really good second period,” shared Jacob Burke, Millersville’s captain. “And then it kind of collapsed in the third.”
The Nittany Lions scored seven minutes into the third period, then scored again three times in just over three minutes. Penn State controlled the puck in the Marauders’ zone for much of the game, putting pressure on Millersville’s defense and giving them very few opportunities to score. Ultimately, Penn State had 78 shots on goal, whereas Millersville ended the game with 26.
Despite this pressure, Schroeder made plenty of key saves to keep Millersville in the game. The Marauders fought hard to the end, but Penn State scored with 13 seconds left in the game, solidifying their 7-1 win.
“Third period, we died,” said Schroeder, who made 71 saves throughout the game. “Had nothing left in the tank, at least me personally. But we’re going to come back stronger next time, for sure.”
Millersville’s next game will be at the University of Maryland on Friday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. They will return home to play Maryland again on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4:25 p.m.
“We’re going to have to play with teams the whole game,” shared Shroeder. “60 minutes is as important as anything. Next game we’re coming out with a W, that’s a guarantee right there.”