A Penn State-Pitt NCAA tournament matchup won’t happen.
The No. 5 Panthers beat Northern Illinois 5-2 Sunday to move past the second round, opening the possibility of a rivalry meeting in the Sweet 16 if Penn State could beat Hofstra.
But the No. 12 Nittany Lions fell 8-1 and Penn State ends its Big 10 championship season with a 13-7-1 overall record.
Hofstra stuck first early, when Ryan Carmichael scored 2:48 in. Hofstra doubled its lead less than a half hour later. Hendrick Hebbeker scored at 29:02 to make it 2-0. Hofstra made it three at 36:45, this time with Matthew Vowinkel doing the honors. The Lions were sunk before halftime.
Hofstra added five more goals in the second half. Penn State scored a pair of late goals that took place after the outcome was already decided. The Pride will take on Pitt in the Sweet 16.
