Michigan
6-10-2, 2-7-1-0B1G
Penn State
12-5-0, 7-3-0-0B1G
Morgan Continues Goal Streak, but U-M Falls to No. 6 Penn State
12/7/2019 11:08:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Luke Morgan is on a three-game goal streak with three goals in the last three games.
» Penn State earned its first win at Yost in since 2014.
» Michigan will be on a 23-day hiatus and will esumes play on Dec. 30 at the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #6 Penn State 3, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (6-10-2, 2-7-1-0 B1G), PSU (12-5-0, 7-3-0-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Monday, Dec. 30 -- vs. Ferris State - Great Lakes Invitational (Detroit, Mich.), 4 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Luke Morgan scored his third goal in as many games, but it was not enough as the University of Michigan ice hockey team fell, 3-1, to No. 6-ranked Penn State on Saturday night (Dec. 7) at Yost Ice Arena.
Each team was presented a few scoring opportunities early on in the first period, but none could find the back of the net.
A too many men on the ice penalty gave Penn State its second power-play chance of the night and a golden opportunity to strike first. Moving the puck from point to point, the Nittany Lions got the look they wanted and blasted a one-timer past Strauss Mann. Nate Sucese was credited with the power-play goal at the 1:53 mark of the opening frame.
Just moments later, a Wolverine defensive miscue led to another PSU opportunity. Evan Barratt received an in-zone pass and he skated toward the Michigan net uncontested and capitalized with 36 seconds remaining in the opening frame to give the Nittany Lions a 2-0 lead.
The Wolverines emerged from the intermission determined to flip the script.
Twenty-nine seconds into the second period, Michael Pastujov maintained possession of the puck before being leveled by a Penn State attacker. As he fought through the hit, Pastujov somehow managed to direct the puck toward the middle of the ice. Morgan collected and fired a one-timer past Peyton Jones high on the blocker side to make it a one-goal game, 2-1, early in the second.
With five minutes to go in the period, Penn State forced a turnover that led to a breakaway on a Michigan power play. Mann, slightly moving in front of his crease to address the Nittany Lion heading towards him at full speed, slammed the door shut with his left pad to hold the one-goal margin.
The Wolverines came out in the third playing with a sense of urgency looking to knot the game but struggled to find the back of the net.
With a little under three minutes remaining in the contest, Mann was pulled from his net for the extra attacker. The Wolverines created multiple scoring opportunities but fell short in finding the equalizing tally.
Penn State went on to finish the game off with an empty-net goal.
Mann recorded 31 saves while Michigan outshot the Nittany Lions, 43-34.
Michigan next will take to the ice Monday, Dec. 30 when at 4 p.m. when it will battle Ferris State in the Great Lakes Invitational at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. for the Great Lakes Invitational.
