Saturdays have been tough for the Bobcats this year. They usually find themselves struggling to close out a series, but this time they were struggling to salvage a split against Penn State.
Coming off a 2-0 loss Friday, the Bobcats rallied back to down the Icers, 7-6 in a shootout Saturday in Bird Arena.
Saturday usually is the problem for us
said forward Ryan Tessmer, who led the Bobcats with a hat trick Saturday.
Tonight we came in with the mindset that we needed to score and get the job done.
Tessmer put the Bobcats (17-10) up early in the first period Saturday, and then it was back and forth all night. Ohio never trailed in the game, but Penn State was finally able to tie the game, 6-6, in the third period.
It stayed that way until a shootout decided the outcome. The spotlight was on goalie Paul Marshall to give the Bobcats
a chance.
I love shootouts Marshall said. I mean as a goalie that's your time to shine. Obviously
you'd love to win in regulation
but if I can win a shootout
that's sweet victory for me.
Marshall turned away all four of the Icers' attempts, giving the Bobcats the chance to win a rivalry game in a packed Bird Arena. Dave Fitzgerald shot third for the Bobcats and was able to beat Penn State's goalie Edward Hume to put Ohio up
by one.
I just went to my go-to move. It worked earlier in the year against these guys
Fitzgerald said. I just went stick-side
about six inches off the ice. That's usually my shot in practice
so I went with it.
Gerry Raymond sealed it for the Bobcats by netting his attempt and putting the shootout out of reach.
Our fans look forward to this matchup because it's such a great rivalry
coach Dan Morris said. We had to come out and earn our split this weekend.
In Friday night's game, Ohio had chance after chance to
score, but couldn't net a goal and was shut out 2-0. Forward J.J Plutt said that the Bobcats just couldn't execute when they needed to.
We had our chances to score
Plutt said. We just didn't.
Captain Jim Roach said that they out-hit, out-shot and out-chanced Penn State, but they weren't able to finish.
I think it was a great hockey game
