Wayne splits with Niagara in CHA opener

The Wayne State Warriors split last weekend's series with the visiting Niagara Purple Eagles. The Warriors lost Saturday's contest, 6-3, but rallied for a 4-2 win in Sunday's matinee game.

The Warriors' record now stands at 7-11-0 overall and 1-1-0 in the CHA.

The Eagles got out to a 2-0 lead on Saturday before Becky Sonn (pictured right) sneaked in a Melissa Boal rebound to put the Warriors on the board and earn her first collegiate goal.

Niagara struck again midway through the second period to regain a two-goal lead. Sam Poyton took advantage of a Warrior power play to narrow the lead again. Tina Vanderhoeven and Lindsay DiPietro earned assists on Poyton's goal, her ninth of the season.

However, Niagara scored a power-play goal of its own late in the second and added another even-strength goal in the opening minutes of the third period to further extend their lead.

Although Poyton set up Boal for a goal midway through the last period, it was not enough. The Eagles scored again and held on to the 6-3 score through the final buzzer.

Valery Turcotte, who was named last week's CHA Defensive Player of the Week for her play against Princeton, turned in a 30-save performance.

Sunday's game began much like Saturday's. Niagara got out to a 2-0 lead by 12:20 of the first period. But the Warriors struck back with four unanswered power-play goals to wrest the victory away from the Eagles.

First up was freshman Brandi Frakie, who scored late in the first period with some help from Laura Monk and Danielle Wilson. Early in the second, Boal and Vanderhoeven set up Poyton for her second goal of the weekend. Less than two minutes later, Wilson and Tegan Schroeder helped Vanderhoeven give the Warriors the lead.

Wilson (pictured left) earned her third assist of the game in the third period when she and Chelsea Burnett helped Boal light the lamp to put Wayne State up 4-2. The score stood until the end of the game.

Turcotte finished with 29 saves in Sunday's contest, including 17 in the third period.

Wilson's three-point game - a career best for the junior - earned her CHA Defensive Player of the Week honors. Boal's performance garnered her a nomination for Offensive Player of the Week, while Schroeder was nominated for Rookie of the Week.

The Warriors are idle over the holidays. They resume competition on January 5-6, when they welcome Colgate to Detroit. They will play Friday's game at City Sports Arena and Saturday's will be held at the Taylor Sportsplex.