Three Rivers Classic 2012: Penn State upsets Ohio State in consolation game

Although there was no hardware to be won in the consolation game of the 2012 Three Rivers Classic, a young Penn State hockey program made sure to take advantage of playing on a big stage, upsetting the Ohio State Buckeyes 5-4 Saturday.

Ohio State got on the board first with a goal from Ryan Dzingel 3:56 into the game. Penn State would answer with their first goal of the tournament when Curtis Loik buried a rebound past Ohio State goaltender Collin Olson.

The Penn State third line would be the difference, and they got to work late in the first period. Off a turnover, Taylor Holstrom scored his first career collegiate goal which would be followed by a Curtis Bailey goal to end the opening period.

In the second, Ohio State appeared to regain momentum when Dzingel scored his second goal of the game 2:39 into the period. Penn State would prevent the tying goal, and then had a breakthrough again when Bailey scored again with just nine seconds remaining, taking a 4-2 lead into the final period.

Penn State would make the score 5-2 when Holstrom added his second tally of the game just 21 seconds into the third period.

Dzingle would add his third goal later in the period, and an Alex Szczechura goal with 2:28 remaining gave the Buckeyes hope of completing an unlikely comeback. This would not be the case, as Penn State goalie, and Pittsburgh native Matthew Skoff stood strong in the game's closing moments.

Bailey finished the game registering two assists to go with his two goals and fellow forward Max Gardiner contributed three assists.

Penn State improved their record to 8-9-0 while Ohio State's fell to 7-8-5.