Penn State splits AIC series, but young guns have success

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State was handed its first non-conference loss since 2021 and in 23 games, losing to AIC 6-4 in Pegula Ice Arena.

Penn State’s last non-conference defeat was Oct. 18, 2021, against Canisius, when they lost 4-1.

AIC opened the scoring first with a Matt Rickard goal coming less than three minutes into the first period.

Simon Mack answered, scoring his second goal of the season. Then, Julius Janhonen and Austen Long scored late goals in the first to solidify the AIC lead heading into the second.

Alexander Malinowksi netted one early in the second, but Chase McLane responded with a goal of his own, followed by Danny Dzhaniyev’s first goal of the season.

Freshman Reese Laubach tied the game in the third with his first collegiate goal, but the equalizer by Casey McDonald and an empty-netter from Brian Kramer solidified the AIC lead.

Souliere was taken out of the game in the second and was replaced by sophomore netminder Noah Grannan, which was his first appearance of the year.

During media before the Nittany Lions’s season-opener on Long Island, Gadowsky noted the work that Grannan had been putting in in the weight room, setting a program record for squats.

“He’s a much better athlete than he was,” Gadowsky said before the team opened up on Long Island.

Gadowsky said his goalie change was to find a “spark” within the team and on the bench.
“He wasn’t the Liam we’ve seen for the past two years,” Gadowsky said. “It’s pretty tough to be 100% consistent for years.”

Souliere allowed four goals and saved 11 shots over 32:55 minutes, while Grannan allowed one goal and saved seven for 25:24 minutes.

That leads back to the billboard “iron sharpens iron” mentality Gadowsky and his players have been pushing all season long.

Speaking of players making each other better, the Kirwan-Dzhaniyev-Fink line has been “buzzing” according to Gadowsky. In this series alone, the trio combined for five points over the weekend, including Fink’s first collegiate goal and Dzhaniyev’s first goal of the season.

“Danny’s line has created a lot of energy; they scored a huge goal in the North County, and I sort of thought they would bring a lot of energy,” Gadowsky said.

Aside from Laubach's first collegiate goal, Dane Dowiak and Jacques Bouquot both recorded assists on Saturday.

However, those accomplishments couldn’t outshine the 6-4 loss.

“We’re trying to get better every day, so we’ve got to find a way back,” Christian Berger said. “Our leadership has to be better.”

“We always approach the next game, and we’re going to do that,” Gadowsky said.

Penn State will take on Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 26 and Oct. 27.

Adrianna Gallucci is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.