Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541276
5 0 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M T he Penn State men's ice hockey team knew it was headed for its biggest challenge of the young season when it traveled to East Lansing for a two-game series against Michigan State in early November. The Spartans were ranked No. 1 and boasted one of the country's top players in Trey Au- gustine, whom Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky called "the best goaltender in the nation right now." In his team's second Big Ten road trip of the season, Gadowsky's assessment proved all too accurate. The Nittany Li- ons weren't able to slip many pucks past last season's Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, managing only 1 goal on 61 shots in the two-game series. The result was a 2-1 overtime loss on Nov. 7 at Munn Ice Arena and a 5-0 setback the follow- ing night. The series opener was a thriller, with third-ranked Penn State fighting back after giving up a goal late in the first period. Freshman forward Gavin McK- enna fired a pass toward junior forward Reese Laubach in front of the Spartans' net, but before Laubach could redirect the puck, it ricocheted off the skate of a Michigan State player and past Augus- tine for a second-period goal to even the score. After a scoreless third period, the two national championship hopefuls headed to overtime. Penn State had a chance to end it on a shot by sophomore forward Charlie Cerrato, but the puck rolled off Augustine's back and away from the net. Augustine saved 24 of the 25 Penn State shots he faced, and Michigan State finally ended the game midway through the extra period, beating PSU junior goalie Kevin Reidler, who had made 30 saves in the game. In the finale, Michigan State jumped out to a 3-0 lead midway through the first two periods and relied on a char- acteristically strong forecheck and Augustine's stellar goaltending to keep the Lions at arm's length. Penn State fired 36 shots at Michigan State's net but ended up being shut out for the first time all season. Even after their tough weekend in East Lansing, the Nittany Lions were averaging 3.5 goals per game to rank second in the Big Ten. McKenna has been everything the team had hoped, totaling 14 points on 4 goals and 10 as- sists and winning National Rookie of the Month honors from the Hockey Com- missioners Association in helping Penn State win nine of its first 10 games, in- cluding a sweep of No. 17 Ohio State in Columbus (3-2, Oct. 30; 4-3, Oct. 31) to open the Big Ten campaign. In addi- HOT AND COLD After a fast start, the PSU men's ice hockey team hits a wall at Michigan State M AT T H E R B | M AT T. H E R B @ O N 3 . C O M OLYMPIC SPORTS Freshman forward Gavin McKenna has shined his first 12 college games, totaling 14 points on 4 goals and 10 assists. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS