STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — The No. 2-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, riding a wave of dominance, will host the Princeton Tigers in a pivotal late-season women’s NCAA Division I hockey clash on Saturday at Pegula Ice Arena.

Penn State (32-5-0), a national powerhouse this season, enters as a heavy favorite. The Nittany Lions have won 10 of their last 11 games, including a tight 3-2 victory over Mercyhurst on March 8. Goaltender Katie DeSa has been a cornerstone of their success, earning the win with 29 saves in that contest and posting back-to-back shutouts earlier in February. Her steady presence anchors a defense that has allowed just 1.6 goals per game over the last month.

Princeton (23-11-0) looks to rebound from a 4-1 road loss to Connecticut on Thursday. The Tigers’ offense will run through senior center Riley Sorokan, who scored their lone goal in that defeat and has been a consistent point producer. She tallied a goal and two assists in a 5-1 win over Harvard on March 1. Princeton has shown resilience, winning three of its last five, but faces its toughest test of the season.

The matchup pits Penn State’s stifling team defense and depth against a Princeton squad reliant on Sorokan and key performers like Mackenzie Alexander, who fired nine shots on goal in the loss to UConn.

According to Interstat, the odds heavily favor the home team. Their game simulator projects a 7-2 Penn State victory, and their ELO rating system gives the Nittany Lions a 66.9% probability to win.

A Penn State victory would solidify its position for a top seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament, while Princeton aims for a season-defining upset to bolster its own postseason resume. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT Saturday.