Monday, March 10, 2008

WSU women drop title game in heartbreaker

By Susannah Nichols/ Wayne State Women's Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors tallied a school-record 22 wins this season, but came up short in Saturday's CHA final as the team lost a 2-1 overtime thriller to No. 7 Mercyhurst College.

Despite surrendering the game-winner, senior goalie Valery Turcotte (pictured) stopped 28 Mercyhurst shots, particularly impressive since the Lakers entered the contest with a 4.06 goals-per-game average.

Tournament MVP Meghan Agosta notched Mercyhurst's only goal to put the Lakers on the board, but Sam Poyton was able to redirect a shot by Tina Vanderhoeven to knot the score heading into overtime.

Both Turcotte and junior Sammi Bowers were named to the all-tournament team.

The Warriors advanced to the final after beating Robert Morris 4-0 on Friday. Turcotte earned her fourth shutout of the season and the ninth of her career.

Tegan Schroeder and Lindsay DiPietro set up Melissa Boal to put the Warriors on the board late in the first period. Janet Babchishin added a goal early in the second stanza to widen the Warriors' lead and Chelsea Burnett and Bowers helped Katrina Protopapas make the most of a power-play situation to put the team up 3-0. Babchishin added an empty-net goal in the final two minutes.

Bowers also assisted on both of Babchishin's goals and Turcotte made 15 saves for the shutout.

The Warriors end their magical season with a record of 22-9-3.
Photo by Mark Hicks/West Side Photographic

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