ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The UConn men’s hockey team began its NCAA Tournament history with a 4-1 victory over Quinnipiac on Friday. Now the Huskies are a win away from the Frozen Four, with Penn State the obstacle.
UConn faces a team much like itself, a school better known for other sports, out of a major hockey conference, and much better than its record, after a much improved second half. Penn State dropped hockey in 1947, restarting in 1971, and joining NCAA Division I and the Big Ten in 2010. The Nittany Lions have reached the regional finals twice, losing in 2017 and ’23.
This season, Penn State was 0-8-1 in its first nine conference games, but 9-3-3 after Jan. 5, surging with the return from injury of goalie Aresenii Sergeev, transfer from UConn. The Lions were 11-2 out of conference, including a loss at Quinnipiac, to get the at-large NCAA bid.
UConn ousts Quinnipiac, 4-1, advances to NCAA hockey Elite Eight to face Penn State
While three other Big Ten teams were knocked off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Penn State has advanced. They knocked off Hockey East champ Maine, the top seed, 5-1 on Friday,
The Huskies, too, played their best hockey in January, February and March, went 8-2 out of conference and 15-9-4 in Hockey East regular-season and tournament play. The conference sent six to the NCAA Tournament, and four are among the eight teams standing.
Here’s how to watch, what you need to know:
Allentown Regional Final
No. 2 UConn (23-11-4) vs. No. 4 Penn State (21-13-4)
Venue: PPL Center , Allentown, Pa.
Date/Time: Sunday, 4:30 p.m.
PairWise ratings:UConn fifth, Penn State 11th
TV: ESPN 2; Announcers: Jason Ross Jr., Kevin Weekes
Radio: Fox 97-9 AM; Announcer: Adam Giardino
Tournament histories: UConn is in for the first time, and beat Quinnipiac 4-1 on Friday. Penn State is making its fifth appearance, but looking for its first Frozen Four berth.
Series history:UConn is 2-1-1, two wins in Storrs in 2013, a loss and tie at PSA in 2015.
Coaches: Penn State, Guy Gadowsky (12th year), UConn, Mike Cavanaugh (12th year).
Key players: UConn: *Joey Muldowney (27 goals,18 assists, 45 points), *Hudson Schandor (10-30-40), John Spetz (1-11-12); Penn State: Aiden Fink (23-30-53), Reese Laubach (15-15-30), goalie Arsenii Sargeev (18-8-4, four shutouts, 2.6 goals-against).
Next: The winner advances to the Frozen Four, the national semifinals and final, in St. Louis, April 10-12.
