Elaine Chuli makes 29 saves against her former team as Sceptres edge Victoire 2-1

MONTREAL (AP) — Elaine Chuli made 29 saves as the Toronto Sceptres defeated the Montreal Victoire 2-1 on Saturday at the Bell Centre.

It was Chuli’s first start against Montreal after spending the first two years in the league as the Victoire’s backup goaltender.

Jesse Compher and Daryl Watts scored for Toronto. Chuli moved to 3-0-0-0 on the season.

Abby Roque scored for Montreal, which lost its second straight game after a four-game winning streak. Ann-Renée Desbiens made 23 saves.

Compher opened the scoring for Toronto when she got lost behind coverage right in front of the net with 1:45 remaining in the first period. It was her third goal of the season.

Roque tied the game 5:20 into the second period, finishing a pass from Kaitlin Willoughby into the slot. It was her third goal of the season.

Toronto regained the lead with less than five minutes remaining in the second period when Watts capitalized on a turnover at her own blue line to have a 2-on-1. She kept the puck and fired a shot past Desbiens.

The Sceptres moved into sole possession of second place in the PWHL with the win. Montreal pulled the goaltender with more than two minutes remaining to try for the equalizer.

Toronto was without 2025 PWHL Defender of the Year Renata Fast for the third straight game. She is out with a lower-body injury. Defender Allie Munroe also missed the game with a lower-body injury.

Despite not having two of their top four defenders in the lineup, Toronto got a big road win for their first victory in three games against Montreal.

This was the fifth PWHL game at the Bell Centre and the second meeting at the arena between Montreal and Toronto in the PWHL. Toronto has won both games.

Sceptres: Host the Minnesota Frost on Tuesday.

Victoire: Visit the New York Sirens on Friday.

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Toronto Sceptres' Kali Flanagan, center, defends against Montreal Victoire's Hayley Scamurra (16) as she moves in on Sceptres goaltender Elaine Chuli (29) during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres' Daryl Watts (9) scores against Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) as Victoire's Erin Ambrose (23) tries to block the shot during the second period of a PWHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Laura Stacey (7) moves in on Toronto Sceptres' goaltender Elaine Chuli (29) during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres' Jesse Compher, back, scores against Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens as Victoire's Kati Tabin (9) defends during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres goaltender Elaine Chuli, center, celebrates with teammates Savannah Harmon (15) and Ella Shelton, right, after defeating the Montreal Victoire in a PWHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for a career-high 262 yards and two TDs, including a 73-yard strike to Trebor Pena early in the fourth quarter, and Penn State beat Clemson 22-10 Saturday afternoon in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Both teams struggled at times with the frigid conditions at Yankee Stadium following a snowstorm. The temperature at kickoff was 28 degrees and the wind chill made it feel like 19 while the snow from Friday’s storm was piled in the right and left field corners.

In his seventh start since Penn State lost Drew Allar to an injury, Grunkemeyer completed 23 of 34 passes, setting career bests for completions and attempts.

“Every game he got better,” Penn State interim coach Terry Smith said about Grunkemeyer. “This was his best game.”

His best throw was to Pena, who caught the ball at the Penn State 44, ran by Clemson safety Ricardo Jones and rumbled untouched down the left side for a 15-3 lead with 12:51 left in the fourth.

“It was man (coverage) and I know he had a seam and we hit it previously in the Rutgers game, the same play,” Grunkemeyer said. “When I saw him kind of break in front of that defender, I knew I had to put it right on him. He ran a great route.”

Grunkemeyer also made a 35-yard throw to Devonte Ross to get the Nittany Lions deep into Clemson territory that set up an 11-yard TD toss to Andrew Rappleyea with 4:56 left for a 22-10

Pena finished with five catches and 100 yards. Pena had the third 100-yard game of his career and was named the game’s MVP.

Before connecting with Pena, Grunkemeyer moved the Nittany Lions into field goal territory three times for Ryan Barker. Barker made a 22-yard field goal on Penn State’s first possession, along with a 48-yard field goal and a 43-yarder.

Penn State (7-6) won its final four games under Smith, who took over for James Franklin following a 22-21 loss to Northwestern on Oct. 11 and will be succeeded by Matt Campbell.

Clemson’s Cade Klubnik completed 22 of 39 passes for 193 yards in his final collegiate game while getting sacked four times. He also had eight passes broken up by Penn State defenders.

“Just too many missed opportunities and it’s hard to win those games,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

The Tigers scored their lone touchdown on Adam Randall’s 2-yard plunge with 8:47 left to slice Penn State’s lead to 15-10.

Clemson (7-6) saw a four-game winning streak stopped and was held to its fewest points in a bowl game since a 10-7 loss to LSU in the 1999 Peach Bowl.

Penn State: Top running back Kaytron Allen did not play because of injury after being questionable and Quentin Martin was the best of the remaining rushers. Martin entered the game with 32 career rushing yards and finished with 101 yards on 20 carries.

Clemson: The Tigers struggled to get any traction with their ground game and were held to 43 yards. It was their second-lowest total of the season behind a 31-yard showing in their season-opening loss to LSU.

Penn State: Open the Matt Campbell era next season at home against Marshall.

Clemson: Open the 2026 season at LSU with a new quarterback after the departure of Klubnik.

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Penn State defensive end Jaylen Harvey (44) sacks Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) during the first half of the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game at Yankee Stadium Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) passes the ball during the first half of the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game against Penn State at Yankee Stadium Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)