Warriors falter at Robert Morris

By Tom Balog/Wayne State Beat Writer

For the second straight year, the Robert Morris Colonials dealt Wayne State (20-6-2, 11-3-0 CHA) a deadly blow in their quest for the CHA title.

Last season, the Green and Gold were keeping pace with Mercyhurst down the stretch until the Colonials snapped the Warriors' 11-game unbeaten streak with a 2-1 upset on Wayne State's home ice at the City Sports Center. The unexpected loss could be argued as what cost WSU an outright title as they ended up tied with Mercyhurst in the final standings.

This season, it was another unexpected stumble as WSU split with RMU over the weekend at the Island Sports Center in Pittsburgh.

WSU started strong on Friday night by clipping the Colonials, 4-2, to run their winning streak to three games.

Senior Sam Poyton (pictured) continued her climb up the record books with a pair of goals including the game-winner at 4:33 of the third period. The two goals give Poyton 22 on the year and the game-winner was the 27th of her career, tying her with Harvard's Nicole Corriero for the all-time NCAA lead in game-winners.

Katrina Protopapas and Lindsay DiPietro also scored for WSU, both on the power play, and Melissa Boal added two assists, giving her 100 for her career.

Delayne Brian was also strong in net again for Wayne State, stopping 30 shots to push her record to 14-3-0.

Brianne McLaughlin turned away an identical 30 shots for RMU.

Kathryn Stack and Megan Picinic added the markers for the Colonials.

Robert Morris sent its seniors out in style on Saturday night with a 1-0 shutout win over the Warriors.

Despite being outshot by a huge 51-20 margin, RMU's goal by senior Kristen Miles at 12:41 of the second period proved to be the difference.

McLaughlin earned first star honors with a mammoth 51-save performance for her second career shutout.

The Warriors had not been held off the scoreboard in 59 games, dating back to a 7-0 loss on Oct. 6, 2007 at Clarkson.

Lindsey Park stopped 19 of 20 for WSU.

Wayne State will close the book on the regular season with a pair of games against third-ranked Mercyhurst back at the City Sports next weekend. Mercyhurst swept WSU by a pair of 4-2 scores in Erie, Pa., back on January 30-31 and lead the Warriors by an insurmountable six points in the CHA.