Wayne State Women '07-08 Season Preview

For opponents of the Wayne State Warriors, last year’s graduation didn’t offer much of a reprieve.

Although the Warriors graduated co-captain Laura Monk, a defensive pillar who earned twelve points last season (3-9), the team returns eighteen letter-winners, including their top five scorers.

CHA adversaries will continue to fear last year’s MVP and Top Gun, Melissa Boal. Boal, a junior this season, netted forty-five points (28-17) last season, including eleven power-play tallies and three game-winning goals.

She often collaborated on the ice with fellow juniors Sam Poyton and Lindsay DiPietro. Poyton, who earned acclaim during her rookie season for surpassing Kelly Zamora’s team record for goals scored, earned thirty-seven points last year (17-20), and had the highest shot success percentage on the team. DiPietro was last season’s infamous set-up artist: she earned thirty assists (37 points total) and was awarded last season’s President’s Cup.

The Warriors’ sophomore class is no less formidable: Brandi Frakie, last season’s Rookie of the Year honoree, will look to match or improve on her fifteen point (9-6) season. Additionally, Tegan Schroeder will continue to be a staple on defense—particularly after spending part of the summer at Team Canada’s Conditioning Camp. Frakie and Schroeder were both named to the CHA All-Rookie team.

Schroeder will continue to be supported on the blue line by junior Tina Vanderhoeven, sophomore Christine Jefferson, and senior Danielle Wilson.

Not to be shown up by underclassmen, the five seniors will also command the spotlight this season: most notably, the goaltending tag-team of Valery Turcotte and Tiffany Thompson. Turcotte was between the pipes for the majority of last season, finishing with an 11-14 record and a 3.49 GAA. However, “backup” seems an insufficient term for Thompson, who saw time in eleven games; she secured a 4-3 record and a 3.06 GAA.

Additionally, the senior class is rounded out by Wilson, fellow defender Jenny Cameron, and forward Ashley King. King served as co-captain with Monk last year and was the recipient of the Warrior Award. She’ll wear the “C” this year, and will be supported by assistant captains Jefferson, DiPietro, and junior forward Amanda Hungle, who will wear an “A” for the second consecutive season.

Finally, the Warriors add three newcomers to their roster: forwards Janet Babchishin and Adriana Pfeffer, and goaltender Paige Keranen.

Despite finishing last season just under .500 (15-18-1), the team went 6-6 in the CHA, and ended their season with a loss in the CHA finals to #2 Mercyhurst. Jim Fetter, who begins his fourth season as Warriors head coach, is joined by new assistant coach Allison Rutledge, a recent graduate of Niagara University.

After an exhibition game at York, the Warriors open their season on the road at Clarkson University. They’ll also contend with Union, Cornell, St. Lawrence, Northeastern, Rensselaer, Colgate, Minnesota, Maine, and Quinnipiac, before opening CHA play against Robert Morris in January.