Women's Hockey | 1/29/2014 10:42:00 AM

Click here for RIT Game Notes --- Click here for Penn State Game Notes

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women's hockey team looks to extend its winning streak this weekend, travelling to brand-new Pegula Ice Arena to face College Hockey America rival Penn State in a pair of games this weekend. The Tigers and Nittany Lions face off at 7 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.
 
On Saturday, Penn State will celebrate its annual "Skate for the Cure", with free admission. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and donate money for PinkZone and THON (A Penn State run dance marathon that raises money for pediatric cancer). Penn State will wear special pink jerseys on Saturday as well.
 
The Tigers (12-12-2, 7-4-1 CHA) won a pair of games over the weekend against CHA rival Lindenwood, by scores of 4-3 and 2-0. The line of Marissa Maugeri (Ajax, Ontario/Durham West Lightning), Kolbee McCrea (Wawa, Ontario/Burlington Barracudas), and Erin Zach (Elmira, Ontario/Cambridge Fury) recorded 11 points in the sweep. On Saturday, Ali Binnington (Oakville, Ontario/Mississauga Chiefs) returned from injury to stop all 23 shots for her fourth shutout of the season and 12th of her career. On Saturday, RIT wore special puzzle piece jerseys that will be auctioned off online in February as part of CHA's "Skate for the Cure". RIT will team up with AutismUp to raise money for the organization.
 
Maugeri and McCrea both have 21 points to lead the team. Maugeri has seven points over her last three games and nine points (4-5-9) over a five-game point-scoring streak. Maugeri has four different three-point games this season and five goals and nine assists in the last 10 games. McCrea has eight points (3-5-8) over a five-game point-scoring streak and nine goals over her last 11 games. Binnington is 9-8-2 with a 2.08 goals against average and .931 save percentage this season.
 
The Tigers play their final eight games, all against College Hockey America opponents. RIT is currently third in the CHA standings, while Penn State enters the weekend in sixth. The top two teams receive a bye into the CHA semifinals.

Penn State (4-19-2, 1-11-0 CHA) is looking to get back in the win column after losing a pair of games at Syracuse last weekend. Their opponents have outscored the Nittany Lions, 90-36 this season. Shannon Yoxheimer leads the team in scoring with 13 points this season, while Taylor Gross and Laura Bowman have seven goals apiece to lead the squad. In net, Nicole Paniccia and Celine Whitlinger have split time this season. Paniccia is 1-10-2 with a 3.35 goals against average and .914 save percentage, while Whitlinger is 3-9-0 with a 3.73 goals against average and .912 save percentage.
 
RIT is 7-0-1 all-time against Penn State, with two wins earlier in the season at Ritter Arena, by scores of 2-1 and 3-2.
  
Friday's game will be available (for a fee) on Friday through the Big Ten Network. America One will stream Satutrday's game online. Live stats will also be available for Friday's and Saturday's contests.