University Park, Pa. — As head coach Guy Gadowsky said last week, securing a sweep in Big Ten play is always a good feeling. That sentiment rang true again Saturday night as No. 8 Penn State defeated Notre Dame, 6–3, at Pegula Ice Arena behind another historic performance from one of the program’s greatest players.
Last weekend, forward Aiden Fink became the fastest player in Penn State history to reach 100 career points, accomplishing the feat in just 87 games and breaking Alex Limoges’ previous mark of 102.
On Saturday, Fink added another milestone, matching the program record for assists in a single game with four. He shares the record with Limoges, Andrew Sturtz, Connor McMenamin, and Matt DiMarsico.
Fink’s line mate, freshman forward Gavin McKenna, enjoyed the best night of his collegiate career, scoring two goals and firing a game-high seven shots on net.
Penn State wasted no time getting on the board. Forward JJ Wiebusch scored just 17 seconds into the game, his first goal since October 31 against Ohio State, to give the Nittany Lions a 1–0 lead.
Penn State controlled much of the opening period, blocking nine Notre Dame shots, and extended the lead when defenseman Jackson Smith scored his sixth goal of the season off assists from Fink and Jared Crespo.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Notre Dame responded late in the first period, scoring twice in a 15-second span. Goals from Cole Knuble and Brennan Ali tied the game at 2–2 heading into intermission.
The second period opened with McKenna snapping a scoring drought, netting his fifth goal of the season, his first since Nov. 7 against Michigan State, to put Penn State back in front, 3–2. Moments later, a Jaedon Kerr interference penalty put Notre Dame shorthanded, but a Penn State turnover allowed Sutter Mazzatti, skating in his 100th career game, to score a shorthanded goal and tie the contest at 3–3.
As penalties mounted on both sides, Penn State capitalized when Notre Dame captain Michael Mastrodomenico was called for interference. On the ensuing power play, Fink and Wiebusch set up DiMarsico for a tap-in, giving him his team-leading 14th goal of the season and fourth of the weekend.
McKenna struck again in the third period, crashing the net to score his second goal of the night and extend Penn State’s lead to 5–3. With under a minute remaining, McKenna, seeking his first collegiate hat trick, instead dished to captain Dane Dowiak, who buried his sixth goal of the season to seal the victory.
With the win, No. 8 Penn State completed a perfect homestand after splitting a home-and-home series with RIT. The Nittany Lions travel to Madison next weekend to face a resurgent Wisconsin team that has posted 15 wins and 22 points in Big Ten play.
