Sophomore Nate Sucese scored his first collegiate hat trick – the first-period game-winning goal, a second-period shorthanded goal, and an empty-net four-on-four goal – as the Nittany Lions sailed past visiting Wisconsin, 5-1.
The Nittany Lions scored on the Badgers early in the first and second periods to take a commanding lead. Evan Barratt opened the scoring on the first power play of the game at 1:36 to make it 1-0, followed by Sucese’s first goal of the night 9:00 to give Penn State a 2-0 lead after one.
Chase Berger scored 11 seconds into the second period to make it a 3-0 game, followed by Sucese’s shorthander at 3:45. The Nittany Lions led 4-0 until Wisconsin’s Tarek Baker scored the Badgers’ only goal at 11:54 in the third. Sucese hit the empty net with 57 seconds remaining in regulation.
Jack Berry started in net for the Badgers, surrendering four goals on 14 shots, and was replaced by Kyle Hayton, who stopped all 17 he faced for the remaining 35 minutes of play. Peyton Jones turned away 25-of-26 shots in his 11th win of the season.
Wisconsin (10-10-2, 4-6-1-0 B1G) and Penn State (12-7-2, 5-4-2-0 B1G) play at 7:07 p.m. Saturday night in Pegula Ice Arena.
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