2011-10-01
Not only was this past Saturday Penn State Harrisburg’s first MDCHA game, but it was their first game ever. They would face a tough opponent in American University who made it to the first round of the MDCHA playoffs last season. With the return of their top scorer, Shay Longtain, American was looking to go even further in to the playoffs this season.
The historical match up got under way a bit cautiously with both teams playing very conservatively and not wanting to make the first mistake. It wasn’t until five minutes remaining in the first when Penn State’s Alex Shuey would net the first collegiate goal for the Penn State Harrisburg hockey club. That goal seemed to give PSU a jolt heading in to the second period as off the first two shifts, they were able to capitalize twice on goals from Ben Acri and Shuey added his second. The three goal lead stuck for almost the entire period until American was awarded a powerplay with under two minutes remaining in the period. It took only .12 seconds to score in to the poerplay as American’s Jake Hollander brought American within two heading in to the final frame.
Both teams came out hitting hard and needing that next tally. Just passed the midway point of the third, Shuey completed his first collegiate hat trick giving his team a three goal lead once again. American’s Toby Mues tried to get them back in to it, scoring with just under three minutes remaining in the game, but PSU’s Mike Van Horn hit one final insurance goal to give the Harrisburg’s Nittany Lions their first collegiate win and two points in the MDCHA standings.
Penn State hopes to keep it going as they travel to Baltimore to take on Johns Hopkins in two weeks. American looks to get back on their track to the playoffs as they play host to Wesley College, also in two weeks.
