Warriors in first after CHA sweep

By Tom Balog/Wayne State Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors started slow, but roared back in both games to demolish the Robert Morris Colonials at the City Sports Center over the weekend.

“Our next challenge is to prepare for Syracuse,” said Warriors head coach Jim Fetter after Friday’s win. “We can’t look past them and to the games with Mercyhurst. We have to keep on task and focus on the goals we set at the start of the season. If we do the right things, good things will happen. It’s been a fun season.”

After a scoreless first period on Friday, the Warriors (15-3-2, 6-0-0 CHA) posted a goal in the second and then four in the third to roll to a 5-0 shutout over RMU.

Melissa Boal (pictured) and Veronique Laramee-Paquette each scored twice as the Warriors leap-frogged the Colonials for first place in the CHA.

Lindsey Park started in net and was only forced to make seven saves in the win. Brittany Zeches played the final 9:58 and stopped one shot in her first significant action of the year.

Brianne McLaughlin stopped 25 of 30 shots in the RMU before being lifted for Daneca Butterfield. Butterfield was a perfect 3-for-3 in mop-up duty.

Lindsay DiPietro also scored for WSU and added two helpers.

Boal added four more goals in Saturday’s finale as the Warriors scored a 7-3 victory to stay unbeaten in their last seven games.

For Boal it was her fourth four-game game in school history and gave her 109 total goals, good for third on the NCAA all-time list.

Robert Morris started the scoring with a Jessica Riley goal in the first period to give the Colonials their first lead of the weekend.

Boal tied the score with her 20th of the season in the second period before a wild third period where eight goals were scored.

In addition to Boal’s three additional goals, Sam Poyton notched her 100th career marker, Laramee-Paquette added her third of the weekend and DiPietro her second.

Poyton’s historic marker came near the midway point of the third period. After a face-off at center ice, Poyton picked up the puck and drove down the left side to the net. With a defender on her inside, Poyton muscled the puck into the net for her 16th marker of the season.

“Not a lot of players to get to that goal,” said Poyton. “It’s a huge accomplishment for me and I’m very proud. I’m happy to get it and even happier for the team. If I score and the help the team win, that’s the most important thing.”

Sara O’Malley and Kathryn Stack scored in the third for RMU.

Delayne Brian stopped 16 of 19 in net for WSU while McLaughlin turned away another 19 shots for RMU.

The Warriors will now embark on a four-game conference road trip starting next Friday in Syracuse, N.Y., against the Orange.

ICE CHIPS…

- Melissa Boal was named CHA Offensive Player of the Week while Veronique Laramee-Paquette (took Rookie of the Week accolades.

- WSU is now 14-1-o all-time vs. RMU.

- Brandi Frakie made her season debut after missing 31 straight games due to injury.

- Boal has six multiple-goal games this season.

- Boal and Poyton also joined Minnesota's Krissy Wendell and Natalie Darwitz (2003-05) as the only teammates on the NCAA list to reach 100 career goals.

- With five points on Saturday, Boal has 199 for her career and is one shy of becoming the ninth player to record 200 points.

Photo courtesy of WSU Athletics