By Jasmine Brown
The Penn State Nittany Lions were looking for their first ever win over No. 5 Maryland, but Bryan Cole had other plans. Cole was determined he would not leave State College without a victory and he did just that.
In the start of the game, Colin Heacock would score the first goal just three minutes in. However one minute later, Penn State would tie it up. It was a constant battle between the two, but Penn State would take a 5-3 lead after the first quarter. Penn State would go on a 4-1 run in the second quarter, chances looking slim for the Terps to go on a run, but 3 unanswered goals by Louis Dubick, Connor Kelly, and Colin, Heacock would pull the Terps within 1 at the half, 8-7 PSU.
The Terps would tie the game twice before taking a 10-9 lead before Penn State would tie it back up. Regulation was not enough for Maryland, although they had the last possession to win it.
In overtime, Maryland had possession, but a save by Penn State’s goalie would give the ball back to Penn State. Penn State’s game winning shot attempt was blocked by Terp goalie Kyle Bernlohr. Maryland got the ball back and Bryan Cole would seal the deal, scoring the game winning goal, with the Terps defeating Penn State 11-10.
Kyle Bernlohr’s crucial save in overtime which helped set up the game winning goal by Bryan Cole, gave him a career high 13 saves for the Terps.
“He worked so hard every day, even those three years behind Nico, were really thankful to have a guy like Kyle,” said Head coach John Tillman.
As for Cole, this is his second consecutive game winning goal (first against Michigan in B1G opener).
“All the coaches all the players we know when the ball goes down there we have complete faith in those guys that they’re going to get a stop get it up and out and the ball is coming back on the offensive end for us,” Cole said.
No. 14 Penn State is now 0-32 against the Terps, while the Terps are now No. 1 in the RPI rankings.
The Terps have now won 7 consecutive games as they look for a chance to claim the top spot when they face first place Rutgers this Saturday. Tip off starts at 4 p.m.
