WSU women earn year-end recognition

The Wayne State University women's hockey team held its annual year-end awards ceremony on Saturday at St. Andrew's in Detroit.

Freshman Melissa Boal was honored as the team's Most Valuable Player. Just 35 games into her collegiate career, Boal had an enormous impact on the team this year, setting several single-season records and rapidly climbing the all-time lists in several categories. She became the first Warrior in history to score four goals in a game on Feb. 25 against Robert Morris and established several new WSU single-season marks, including points (48), assists (25), and power-play goals (11). She ranks fourth all-time in points and is the active leader on the team. She also set new College Hockey America records for shots on goal (201), power-play goals, and power-play points (26).

Due to her display of scoring prowess this season, Boal was also presented with the "Top Gun" award, as her 48 points marked a team high, and her 25 assists tied for the team lead with classmate Lindsay DiPietro.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Sam Poyton, who set a school record on Jan. 20 against Rensselaer when she scored her 16th goal of the season, breaking the previous mark set by Emily McGrath-Agg in the 2003-04 campaign. By the end of the regular season, Poyton tallied 29 goals, matching the CHA record. She currently stands as the active goal-scoring leader on the team and in second on the all-time list behind former Warrior Kelly Zamora (34).

Sophomore forward Kristy Leng earned Most Improved Player honors, as she set career-highs in assists (7) and points (11) during the 2005-06 campaign. She also set a school record for assists in a period, tallying three in the second period on Jan. 21 against Rensselaer.

Senior blueliner Peyton Patterson earned the Best Defenseman award for the second straight year. With career-highs in assists (12) and points (13) this season, Patterson climbed her way into the WSU record books, as her 27 career points rank tied-for-15th all-time and her 24 assists tie for ninth.

Sophomore Ashley King was presented with the President's Award for academic success. A marketing major, King has the highest cumulative grade-point average on the team.

The Coaches' Award was given to senior Jessica Snelgrove (pictured), who was also honored for her service as the team captain this past season. The recipient of the CHA Student-Athlete of the Year Award, Snelgrove ranks on the school's top 10 all-time lists for points (39), goals (15), and assists (24).

Photo by Mark Hicks/WestSide Photo.