By Tom Balog/Wayne State Beat WriterWAYNE STATE WARRIORS
Head coach: Jim Fetter (sixth season, 100-84-18)
Home arena: City Sports Center (500)
Last season: 21-9-2 overall, 11-5-0 CHA (2nd), lost in CHA final to Mercyhurst
Returning for the Warriors:
Goaltenders: Delayne Brian, Lindsey Park, Brittany Zeches
Forwards: Micheline Frappier, Katrina Protopapas, Veronique Laramee-Paquette, Alyssa Baldin, Adrianna Pfeffer
Defensemen: Chelsea Burnett, Christine Jefferson, Marlee Fisher, Jill Szandzik, Ciara Lee
No longer wearing the Green and Gold:
Forwards: Melissa Boal, Lindsay DiPietro, Sam Poyton, Emily Berzins, Brandi Frakie, Amanda Hungle, Becky Sonn , Janet Babchishin
Defensemen: Natalie Payne, Tina Vanderhoeven, Bailey Lane
New to the Warriors:
Forwards: Gina Buquet, Lauren Ragan, Julie Hebert, Julie Ingratta, Jaclyn Stapleton, Lauren Coxon
Defensemen: Lauren Lovold, Jenaya Townsend
Outlook: Wayne State will use more balanced scoring and rely on their blueline experience as their skate into their tenth season of play.
The offensive fireworks that Warrior fans have come to expect will be absent this season with the graduation of Melissa Boal, Lindsay DiPietro, and Sam Poyton. The powerhouse line contributed 600 points over the last four seasons.
"I think offensively our numbers might go down compared to the past, but I'm hoping with our defense and goaltenders returning that we'll do a better job in our zone and not need to score as many goals to win games and be competitive," said Fetter. "I wouldn't be surprised if there were a lot of 1-0, 2-1, or 3-2 scores this year. Hopefully, we'll be on the winning side of those games."
Veronique Laramee-Paquette will wear the 'A' this season and leads 13 returning players after totaling 10 goals and 20 points in her freshman season.
The Warriors will be solid on defense with senior captain Christine Jefferson and fellow fourth-year player and all-time leading defensive scorer Chelsea Burnett.
Delayne Brian led the Warriors between the pipes last season 15 wins. Lindsey Park played in 12 games and paced the CHA with a .921 save percentage and placed second with a school-record 2.10 goals-against average.
Wayne State will begin the '09-10 season with a pair of non-conference games at Rensselaer beginning on Fri, Oct. 2. The first home series at the City Sports Center will face off on Fri, Oct 16 against Boston University.
The Warriors will begin the battle for the CHA crown with a pair of home tilts starting on Fri, Nov. 6 in Detroit against archrival and reigning conference champ Mercyhurst.
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