Warriors remain unbeaten

By Susannah Nichols/ WSU Women's Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warrior's winning streak--a school-record nine games--came to an end on Saturday, when they fought to a 2-2 tie with Mercyhurst. However, the tie, coupled with 5-4 overtime victory on Friday, allows the team to preserve their eleven-game unbeaten streak. Additionally, Friday's win was significant because it was the Warriors' first victory over Mercyhurst.

Junior forward Lindsay DiPietro and senior goalie Valery Turcotte also maintained streak of their own: DiPietro has earned points in each of the last twelve games, and Turcotte is unbeaten in her last eleven starts.

Mercyhurst got on the board first in Friday's game, but DiPietro struck back three minutes later, off assists from Chelsea Burnett and Melissa Boal. Burnett then set up Adrianna Pfeffer for a power play goal, Pfeffer's second of the season. Sam Poyton (pictured) added a goal (assisted by DiPietro and Boal) to put the Warriors up 3-1 heading into the first intermission.

Sammi Bowers and Janet Babchisin helped Pfeffer notch her second goal of the night, but Mercyhurst then scored three unanswered goals to knot the score heading into overtime. Senior goaltender Valery Turcotte was a critical factor in keeping the Warriors alive; she made 36 of her dazzling 52 game saves in the second two periods.

In overtime, Mercyhurst outshot Wayne State 4-1, but the Warriors only needed one: Poyton grabbed Tegan Schroeder's rebound and shot it past goalie Laura Hosier for the victory.

Saturday's game was initially a battle between Hosier and Turcotte, neither of who allowed a goal in the first period. While Mercyhurst was likely looking to score on their power play late in the second period, it was DiPietro who wrested control of the puck and beat Hosier on a breakaway.

Early in the third period, Poyton picked up a pass from Boal to light the lamp. Mercyhurst responded with two goals within the next ten minutes to tie things up (and outshot the Warriors 17-5 over the third period and overtime), but neither team could nail the game-winner.

Turcotte finished with 26 saves.

The Warriors (17-6-3, 5-0-1 CHA) return to Detroit this weekend: they will face Robert Morris on Friday and Saturday at the City Sports Center.

ICE CHIPS…

- By beating and tying Mercyhurst on the road, Wayne State leaped into the USCHO.com Division I Women's Poll for the first time in school history. The Warriors are ranked #10 in the current poll and Mercyhurst came in at #7.

- Wayne State University hockey players Ashley King and Mike Forgie and are among the 66 finalists on the voting ballot for the 2008 Frozen Four Skills Challenge, as announced by the NCAA. Fans can vote for their favorites online until Thursday, February 14.

photo courtesy of WSU Athletics