Warriors settle for split down south

By Karl Henkel / WSU Men's Beat Writer

While the weekend started off promising, the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers were too tough of a task for Wayne State in the finale and the Warriors were forced to settle for a split in a late-season CHA series.

Derek Bachynski, who had a huge weekend, led the way with three points Saturday, Jeff Caister set up two goals and Stavros Paskaris' third-period goal broke a 2-2 tie en route to a 4-2 Warrior win.

After trailing 1-0 heading into the second period, Bachynski netted two goals in a five-minute span, the first on the power play.

But just 3:56 later, Kevin Morrison chipped in a rebound to knot the score at 2-all.

Then, just over eight minutes into the third period, Paskaris rifled a wrister past Charger goalie Cameron Talbot, which proved to be the game-winner.

Ryan Adams sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 41 seconds remaining and Brett Bothwell made 13 saves in net.

Part deux saw Wayne State overcome a two-goal deficit, but a late second-period goal by UAH gave them a second lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Trailing 2-0 less than six minutes into the game, Bachynski added his third goal of the series in the first, again on the power play, and Paskaris tied the game with a tally 3:39 into the second.

Morrison scored for the Chargers with 57 seconds to go in the second frame.

Still a one-goal game, the Warriors were unable to convert any of their 15 third period shots. Chris Fairbanks (Milford) then put the game out of reach at 15:09, before Matt Sweazey scored an empty-netter, completing the 5-2 Charger win.

Bachynski's three-goal, two-assist series earned him CHA Offensive Player of the Week, while Caister's three helpers got him CHA Defensive Player of the Week honors.

WSU (9-21-2, 5-11-0 CHA) is idle this weekend before heading to Bemidji State Feb. 29-March 1 for two CHA games.