The second-seeded Wayne State women are heading to its first-ever CHA championship game after rallying past third-seeded Niagara, 3-2, Friday afternoon in the first semifinal of the CHA Tournament at the RMU Island Sports Center.Entering the third period down 2-1, sophomore forward Melissa Boal (pictured) took over, scoring both goals, including the game-winner with 13 minutes left in regulation. The tallies were Boal's 26th and 27th of the season.
"It was a total team effort," said Wayne State head coach Jim Fetter. "We were down twice to Niagara and we stuck with the game plan. We shot the puck more in the third period and it paid off. We just kept working and never gave up."
Down 1-0 late in the first period after a Mary McKinnon goal, the Warriors tied the contest as freshman defenseman Christine Jefferson put a slapper past NU senior goaltender Allison Rutledge.
The Purple Eagles took their second lead of the afternoon when Ashley Riggs scored on a backhander on a breakaway with eight minutes remaining in the second period. That goal came about 10 seconds after WSU junior goalie Val Turcotte had stopped a Charde Hoyle-Levy breakaway.
The Warriors played defensive hockey the rest of the game, with Turcotte making several brilliant saves, including one on a Riggs deflection from the slot.
Turcotte finished with 19 saves and Sam Poyton added two assists for WSU.
Rutledge stopped 13 for the Purple Eagles, who finish the season with a 10-19-6 overall mark.
The Warriors (15-17-1) will play the winner of four-time defending champion and nationally-ranked No. 2 Mercyhurst (tournament top seed) and tournament host Robert Morris (No. 4 seed) for the title on Saturday at 4 p.m. Mercyhurst and RMU play today at 4 p.m.
UPDATE (8:02 p.m. Friday): Mercyhurst beat Robert Morris, 5-2, today behind a two-goal, two-assist performance from CHA Rookie and Player of the Year Meghan Agosta.
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