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Penn State sweeps series, ending four-game win streak for SU

Penn State sweeps series, ends SU’s four-game win streak

Goalie Ava Drabyk tallies 70 saves over the weekend, not enough to push the Orange past the Nittany Lions.

Story by Evan Harrington / Photos by Isaac Williams
Published: January 16, 2026
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Photo by Issac Williams
Freshman forward Emma Gnade took a shot on goal during the first period on Saturday at Tennity Ice Pavilion.

No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions (20-4) snap Syracuse’s (12-12-3) four-game win streak in a 4-1 conference victory.   

Friday’s affair was much closer than the last two contests the teams played against one another, as in the previous two matchups, Penn State outscored the Orange 18-2.   

It wasn’t until the 16:50 mark of the first period that Grace Outwater kicked the scoring off, stripping Syracuse defenseman Jessica Cheung of the puck, ripping it right past goalie freshman Ava Drabyk, giving Penn State a 1-0 advantage going into the second.   

Momentum carried into the second period from Outwater’s goal, as it only took 20 seconds for Mya Vaslet to bury it off the post and in, giving Penn State a two-goal lead.   

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Photo by Isaac Williams
Syracuse defenseman Maya D’Arcy takes a shot on goal during the second period.

With the Orange starting the new year 4-0, this is an improved squad in 2026, not backing down. Sophomore forward Rylee Mcloed created a 2-on-1, feeding senior forward Heidi Knoll, who found herself in a lone backhand, beating Maddy Campbell and getting the Orange back within one, not even midway through the second.   

“Big improvement since the last time we’ve played them, it’s about the process, tomorrow we’re gonna play even, but it was nice to be close for a big portion of that game,” Knoll said.   

Going into the third, Syracuse was only down one and in their best position against Penn State all season until Kendall Butze netted the Nittany Lions’ third goal of the night with midway through the final period of play.  

The Orange battled back, but it wasn’t enough in the end, with Tessa Janecke cashing in the empty netter, giving Penn State a 4-1 advantage.   

During the final game of the series on Saturday afternoon, the Orange fought back and outshot the Nittany Lions in the second period, but still fell 3-2.

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Photo by Isaac Williams
Syracuse forward Jackson Kinsler celebrates her first-period goal with her teammates.

Jackson Kinsler and Maya D’Arcy scored for Syracuse, while Drabyk tallied 34 saves in goal for the Orange.

Kinsler led the Orange with nine shots on goal and recorded her fifth goal of the season. D’Arcy scored her first goal of the season during a power play in the second period to tie the game 2-2.

Syracuse will face the Lindenwood Lions on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Tennity Ice Pavillion.