2011-12-03
Franklin & Marshall has proved to be a good fit in the MDCHA this season putting up some good wins and taking others to overtime. Penn State Harrisburg has done much of the same, even with a first year program. So it is no surprise that when the two teams meet that it is a great matchup.
The game started with good back and forth action. F&M was awarded an early powerplay on a penalty on Penn State’s Guy Lewis, Jr. PSU was able to kill off the penalty and used the momentum to generate some offense as Lewis was able to score the game’s first goal. F&M struck right back off the ensuing faceoff as their leading scorer Bill Kempner scored his first of the game. Minutes later the Diplomats struck again with a goal from Ryan Samuel and took the 2-1 lead. Penn State would answer right back as the Acri brothers (Ben to Danny) connected to tie the game at 2 as the teams headed in to the second period.
The second period started very similar to the first with neither team being able to get a good scoring chance until midway through the period. It was then when PSU would reclaim the lead on a shot from Stefan Eshleman. But once again F&M would answer on the next shift with a goal from Conor McGovern. Franklin & Marshall would keep it going this time as they would score again on a goal from Ken Provost. This time PSU would have an answer as the next shift Rich Hoffer would rip a shot past the F&M netminder tying the game once again. Late in the period F&M was awarded a powerplay but it would be Penn State that would take advantage on a goal from Michael Van Horn and this short handed goal gave PSU the lead heading in to the third.
The final period would prove to be the deciding factor in the offensive battle. F&M came flying out of the gate and it would be Samuels who would net his second of the game to tie the game at 5. Minutes later it would be Kempner again and just like that F&M had the lead once again. PSU tried to come back as they had done earlier but nothing was left in the tank as they were not able to generate any more offense. Late in the period Evan Jones of F&M would finish off the Nittany Lions with a goal.
Both teams now head in to the Winter break before returning to action next semester.
