Wayne State falls in CHA finals

By Tom Balog/Wayne State Beat Writer

For the third year in a row, the Wayne State Warriors'(21-9-2, 11-5-0 CHA) season ended at the hands of the Mercyhurst Lakers.

The third-ranked Lakers walloped Wayne State, 6-1, on Saturday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center to claim their seventh straight CHA Championship.

"They (Mercyhurst) came out ready to go," Wayne State Head Coach Jim Fetter said. "All kinds of speed, we got caught flat-footed, made a couple of mental mistakes and they cashed in on them."

Meghan Agosta, Meghan Corbett, Kelley Steadman and Jess Jones all scored by the 13:11 mark of the opening period to push the Lakers to a commanding 4-0 lead.

Blueliner Natalie Payne fired in a power-play goal at 16:17 to put the Warriors on the board, but that was the only puck they could put past Lakers goalie Hillary Pattenden. Fellow seniors Melissa Boal (pictured) and Sam Poyton were credited with the assists.

Pattenden finished the game with just 12 saves for the win.

Valerie Chouinard scored a power-play marker in the second period and Agosta added her second of the game in the third period to close out the scoring.

Delayne Brian started in net for WSU, but was lifted after surrendering three goals on five shots. Lindsey Park (pictured) came on in relief and stopped 31 of 34 shots.

After starting the season 17-3-2 and rising as high as No. 10 in the national rankings, the Warriors stumbled down the stretch finishing 4-6 in their last 10 games. Five of the losses were against Mercyhurst.

Payne and Boal were named to the CHA All-Tournament Team after each recording two goals and an assist in two games.

CHA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Melissa Boal, Sr., F, Wayne State
Jess Jones, Fr., F, Mercyhurst
Meghan Agosta, Jr., F, Mercyhurst
Natalie Payne, Sr., D, Wayne State
Geena Prough, So., D, Mercyhurst
Hillary Pattenden, Fr., G, Mercyhurst
MVP: Jesse Scanzano, So., F, Mercyhurst

Photo and Jim Fetter quote courtesy of MiCHO writer Karl Henkel