Spartans Stopped By Penn State, 1-0

EAST LANSING – Penn State topped the Michigan State hockey team, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at Munn Ice Arena in the first of a two-game series. Sam Sternschein's goal with 2:56 to go in the first period stood as the difference.

"It was a good battle," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "There were obviously a few things that could have been better. The guys did a decent amount of things right, but not a lot of puck luck. We had a lot of chances – guys in alone, some plays through the slot and missed the net on a lot of them.

"We did a lot of good things and we'll build on that for tomorrow."

Despite the Spartans (3-4-2, 2-4-1-2-0-0) outshooting Penn State in the first period, 13-10, it was the Nittany Lions (4-5, 2-5-0-0-0-0) that scored the lone goal. Sternschein was able to get a loose puck off a turnover in front of the MSU net and snap it in from low in the left circle, unassisted.

The Spartans created several quality chances throughout the game. In the first, Nicolas Müller had a chance when he took puck around top of the crease, but PSU goaltender Oskar Autio was able to get a stick on and keep out.

Autio finished with 23 saves.

In the second, Charlie Combs had three shots – the third of which rang off the post - in a span of just over 30 seconds with under five minutes to play in the period.

MSU goaltender Drew DeRidder did his part to keep it a one-goal game when he turned away Kevin Wall on a breakaway with 12:30 to go in the third.

DeRidder finished with 28 stops.

The Spartans pressed in the final minutes, but couldn't come up with the tying goal.

MSU had the only power play of the game, which came in the second period.

The Spartans and Nittany Lions will meet again on Monday at 3 p.m. at Munn.

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Team Stats

Kyle Haskins

Charlie Combs

Mitchell Lewandowski

Nicolas Müller

Players Mentioned

Charlie Combs

Players Mentioned

Charlie Combs