Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/604314
body. Freshman Alec Marsh scored two goals in the opener and said a;er the game that the atmosphere in Pegula was the "coolest thing I've ever experienced." "We felt the weight and importance of that and wanted to do something special to put a big, bold exclamation point on the start of this season," Watson said. "We wanted to make Friday night a night that this incoming class will remember for the rest of their lives." Notre Dame piped in simulated crowd noise at practice the week of the game to mimic the atmosphere at Pegula, where the intense environment is the result of crisscross promotions between Intercol- legiate Athletics and the Roar Zone. "The team had our backs, and they especially make sure to help us promote the event on social media," Roar Zone president Kyle Hoke said. "Guy Gadowsky is awe- some. He loves what we do, and we love showing him what we do." Roar Zone secretary Chris Godissart said, "It's de:nitely something special to be a part of as a fan, and something that other teams are beginning to prepare for before they make the trip to Hockey Valley." Godissart added that he thinks the on- campus buzz for the program has never been higher than it is now. Backing up that statement, the Lions continue to sell out Pegula Ice Arena, and the raucous home environment that's been created has led to success on the ice. Penn State has played in front of 21 consecutive home sellouts and has gone 18-4-4 at Pegula during the past two seasons. A;er losing to the Irish, 7-4, on opening night, the Nittany Lions rallied to earn a split in the two-game series, pulling out a 5-3 victory the next day. Gadowsky cel- ebrated one goal with a double-:st pump that symbolized the excitement surround- ing the program. As Roar Zone treasurer Dan Kaczowka noted, there's been one student White Out per season, complementing the tra- ditional arena-wide White Out that the athletic department promotes. The Roar Zone has evolved into an independent student organization a;er previously falling under the umbrella of the Hockey Management Association student group. Hoke called the HMA a great club, and said that student interaction is important for the Roar Zone, so this isn't a situation in which the two groups are competing against one another. "Our clubs go hand- in-hand," Hoke said. "They can help us, and we can help them." That type of purposeful action hasn't gone unnoticed. Following the Nittany Lions' home open- er, Gadowsky began his postgame news conference by talking about the atmos- phere the students provided, and he circled back to the topic when asked how he thought the team's freshmen played during their :rst game at Pegula. "I know they're going back to their dorm thinking, 'What an unbelievable place to play, this is phenomenal,'" Gadowsky said. "The atmosphere was great, and the stu- dent section was phenomenal. I know they're disappointed we lost, but I guar- antee you they're pumped about their de- cision to come to Penn State because of the atmosphere in the building." ■ MEN'S ICE HOCKEY Skoff shines in victory over Sacred Heart Penn State completed a two-game sweep of visiting Sacred Heart, winning 3-2 in front of 6,217 fans on Nov. 14. Tommy Olczyk tallied the winning goal in the third period, and Chase Berger scored twice to move into the NCAA lead for goals by a freshman (eight). The two teams combined for 112 shots on goal, as the Nittany Lions set a school record with their 67 shots. Penn State goaltender Matthew Skoff and his Sa- cred Heart counterpart, Brett Magnus, combined for 107 saves. "I think that was a tremendous goal- tending effort from both goalies," PSU coach Guy Gadowsky said. "I thought they were fantastic. You get 67 shots and you feel that you should win, but you give up 45 and you feel very lucky." The Pioneers put together a furious at- tempt at a rally down the stretch, pulling Magnus for an extra attacker and firing several quality chances on net, but Skoff was up to the task and held on for his second win of the season. Penn State (6-2-2) had opened the se- ries the previous night with an 8-2 romp in which it scored a school-record five power play goals. WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY Catanzariti's hat trick lifts Lions past RMU Senior forward Micayla Catanzariti recorded the third hat trick in Penn State history, and the visiting Nittany Lions pulled away for a 5-1 victory over Robert Morris on Nov. 14. The win came on the heels of a 2-2 tie against the Colonials the night before. Penn State's two-game series at RMU marked the start of a 12-game road trip. The Lions (4-7-3, 1-2-3 College Hockey America) will not return home until welcoming Robert Morris to Pegula Ice Arena Jan. 22-23. ■