Nicole's NCAA Notebook: September 30, 2024

• The very first game of the weekend, Penn State vs. Northeastern on Thursday, was kind of a chaotic mess, with 13 penalties and what felt like almost no even-strength play. Penn State was 0 for 7 on the power play and took just five shots on goal over the weekend series. That's something they're going to need to work on.
  
• The two teams aren't in the same conference and had played just twice (to open last season) before meeting on Thursday, but that didn't stop them from beefing. It started when NU's Jules Constantinople (no. 41) and PSU's Tessa Janecke (no. 15) had words as the first period ended. As she skated away, Janecke made the "too short" motion at Constantinople.
  

In the second period, Janecke and teammate Lyndie Lobdell were in the penalty box and NU's Lily Shannon (no. 2) scored what would prove to be the game winner, putting Northeastern up 2-1. She immediately turned to Janecke in the box and returned the favor, giving a "too short" and shoulder shrug on the way to her bench to celebrate the goal.

I love the passion and that both teams are so hyped this early in the season and in a non-conference game.

• Last week I mentioned Ohio State's Makenna Webster pulling double duty in field hockey and ice hockey and just wanted to point out this OT game winner she had in field hockey on Sunday. She ended the weekend with two goals and an assist in ice hockey and two goals in field hockey (where she's 7th in the country with 3.12 points per game). Insane.
• The rookies are making an immediate impact. OSU's Jordyn Petrie leads the way with four goals and an assist and her four goals lead all scorers in the country. Sixteen rookies have already lit the lamp.
• Lindenwood's Zsofia Pazmandi is a transfer from DIII Plattsburgh. There's always a conversation about the different between the divisions. Plattsburgh is a perpetual top team in DIII and it was clear that Pazmandi had no issue with the the jump. Despite her team being at a disadvantage against Wisconsin, she was consistently noticeable on the ice and scored a gorgeous goal - the only one the Lions tallied on the weekend (sadly, no one shared that goal online or I'd link to it).
• With a good number of uneven matchups this weekend, I really loved watching the back and forth between Holy Cross and RPI on Friday. They were well matched, with great back and forth movement. It felt like they were scratching for every inch of ice. It's easy to only watch the ranked matchups, but this was a good reminder of why it's both fun and important to be checking in on every team.
• Goals you need to see:
  Mercyhurst's Makayla Javier's OT game-winner

• Bemidji State's Hailey Armstrong's short-hander

• Ohio State's Jordyn Petrie solo effort

• Quinnipiac's Maya Labad's one-handed flick