Wayne women sweep second straight series

The Wayne State Warriors (10-12-4, 2-1-1 CHA) got some offensive contributions from unlikely sources last weekend. The scoring, combined with continued solid goaltending, resulted in a sweep of Robert Morris on the road.

On Friday, goaltender Tiffany Thompson had a flawless first period, but her job was made easy by the fact that the Colonials put only two shots on net. At the other end of the ice, Sam Poyton and Laura Monk set up Amanda Hungle for her second goal of the season and Wayne's first of the game. The Warriors extended their lead to two at 9:39 of the second period when freshmen Lindsay DiPietro and Melissa Boal set up fellow rookie Poyton for her 18th of the season.

Late in the second, DiPietro connected with Kristy Leng (reigning CHA Offensive Player of the week) on defenseman and assistant captain Peyton Patterson's on her first goal of the season.

Special teams would be critical for Robert Morris in the third. The Colonials scored a power-play goal less than a minute into the period and then reversed the fortune of a Warriors power play just two minutes later when they scored a short-handed goal.

The Warriors didn't let them back in the game any further. Boal widened the Wayne lead to two with six minutes left in the game. DiPietro and Kristi Thome were credited with assists.

Thompson finished with 15 saves in Friday's 4-2 win.

Saturday's contest started much like Friday's. Wayne State got on the board first with efforts from the usual suspects and a few fresh faces. With a minute left in the first period, Poyton and Sarah Campbell set up DiPietro for her fourth point of the weekend. Midway through the second period, DiPietro connected with senior Rachel Benninger (pictured above left) to help Poyton light the lamp. And with 22 seconds left in the second period, Benninger scored her first goal in nearly three years to widen the Warriors' lead to three. Poyton and DiPietro were credited with assists.

Surprisingly, the last goal featured neither Poyton nor DiPietro. Leng capitalized on a Warrior power play early in the final period with some help from Campbell and captain Jessica Snelgrove.

Although the Colonials managed to rob Turcotte of her shutout at 7:09, the sophomore goaltender made 11 saves.

The Warriors are idle this weekend, but welcome CHA leader Mercyhurst to Detroit on Feb. 10-11.