Wayne State women sweep Niagara

Freshman sensation Melissa Boal (pictured) recorded five points and coach Jim Fetter's dilemma of which goaltender is better got no easier last weekend, as the Wayne State women's team swept Niagara - they won 4-0 on Friday and 2-1 Saturday.

The Warrior offensive energy has been inextricably linked to the freshman class this year, and the Niagara series was no exception. Boal's unassisted goal put the Warriors on the board at 6:22 of the first period, and fellow freshman Lindsey DiPietro closed the first stanza by blasting a Kristy Leng rebound past the Niagara netminder to increase their lead to two.

During the second period, Boal took advantage of a Warrior power play to set up CHA scoring leader Sam Poyton for her 22nd goal of the season and Wayne's third of the game. Boal sealed the deal for the Warriors with her second goal of the night at 9:38 of the second period. DiPietro and Rachel Benninger earned assists on the play.

Valery Turcotte was flawless in net for the Warriors as she stopped all 13 of the Purple Eagles' shots.

On Saturday, Warrior fans were treated to another exemplary netminder performance as Tiffany Thompson stopped 19 Niagara shots. After a quiet first period, Thompson's only allowed goal came just twelve seconds into the second period, and the Warriors trailed for the first time in the series.

Laura Monk retaliated for the Warriors at 8:47 of the second period while on a 5-on-3 man advantage. Monk gained control of the puck during a scramble in front of the net and lit the lamp for the Warriors. Boal and DiPietro earned assists on Monk's goal.

Boal and DiPietro combined once more in the game. They set up Poyton to put the game away for the Warriors at 4:45 of the third period.

Thompson and the Warrior defense did not waver for the rest of the game, including a successful battle against a 5-on-3 Niagara advantage.

The Warriors (12-13-5, 4-2-2 CHA) will host the Robert Morris Colonials this weekend.