Wayne State ACHA squad learning on the fly

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

After Wayne State University’s men’s Division I team folded in 2008 and its women’s team in 2011, many wondered when hockey would once again be part of the school’s extra-curricular activities.

With the addition of club hockey at the ACHA Division III level, men’s hockey returned to the ice this season under coach Frank DiCristofaro, a one-time member of the WSU men’s D-I team during its early years.

DiCristofaro spent the summer recruiting players and marketing the team and, thus far, has been pleased with the results on and off the ice. Going into this weekend, the Warriors are 5-4-0-2.

“The season has been going well,” said DiCristofaro, who has coaching experience at the high school level with St. Clair Shores Unified. “We have had some pleasant surprises and have also learned some lessons about what it takes to win at this level.”

FULL STORY: Checking in on Wayne State’s new ACHA team - MiHockey

Hockey back at WSU with new ACHA squad

By Matt Mackinder/MiCHO Managing Editor

Wayne State hasn’t seen men’s hockey since the nine-year run of the Division I program ended after the 2007-08 season.

This fall, hockey will once again be played at Wayne State, albeit as a club sport at the ACHA level, as Frank DiCristofaro will guide the Warriors from their new home rink at the City Sports Center.

DiCristofaro comes to WSU from the St. Clair Shores Unified High School team where he was co-head coach. He attended a tryout for Wayne State’s D-I team in 2003 and later played Single-A pro hockey in Fraser and Chicago.

Coaching, though, is something that is in DiCristofaro’s blood and he will bring an intense style for Wayne State.

“The process of getting a club team was very thorough,” said DiCristofaro. “Club sports are specifically designated student organizations and in order to be recognized by the university, the teams must obtain various types of insurance and adhere to a comprehensive risk management plan. Club sports are also intended to be a student development tool. All of the organization’s team administration must be completely run by students.”

Looking at WSU’s schedule for next season, on paper it looks pretty tough. That’s a non-issue, according to DiCristofaro, who has a bachelor’s degree from WSU and is presently working on his master’s degree.

“One thing that we have at our advantage is time,” said DiCristofaro. “We were able to go through the proper avenues to get things done and prepare for the season. We were also able to contact many players who had interest and explain to them what it would be about. As a first-year program, it can be challenging to get teams to schedule mostly because of the unknown. With that said, we have a modest outlook, but at the same time, wanted to make sure that we played the best competition that was available to us.”

DiCristofaro said that several players have already given him verbal commitments to play next season, with more expected as the summer months wear on.

“We have had significant interest from players both in the area and from Canada (many students at Wayne State do hail from Ontario),” explained DiCristofaro. “Currently, we have several players committed for next season. We have players from USA and Canadian junior hockey, AAA and high school players and travel players from prominent programs in the area. I do think that we benefit from being in what can be considered a hockey hotbed here in Detroit when it comes to player interest.

“I jumped at the chance to represent my alma mater again. It’s been exciting and I am happy with the direction that we are going.”

Can having an ACHA team perhaps lead to one day having D-I hockey back at Wayne State?

“That is a decision that rests in the Department of Athletics,” said DiCristofaro.

Wayne State women's hockey folding

By Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

Just 16 days after announcing captains for the 2011-12 season, MichiganCollegeHockey.com has learned that Wayne State University has made the decision to discontinue it's women's hockey program.

Warrior head coach Jim Fetter was told of the move yesterday in a closed door meeting with WSU athletic director Rob Fournier at the Matthaei Building.

The Warriors began play in 1999 and were the only Division 1 women's hockey program ever in the state of Michigan.

During their 12-year run, the Warriors collected a 265-351-54 record that culminated in sharing the College Hockey America regular season title in 2007-2008.

Members of the Wayne State hockey team can continue to attend school on scholarship, but must maintain NCAA athletic standards. Players wishing to transfer may sign with another school and play immediately without waiting one year.

News of the decision has already been hard for Wayne State fans who lost the men's program after the 2007-2008 season and an effort to reverse the move has already begun with a page called Save the WSU Women's Hockey Program on Facebook.

Please check for further updates as they become available.

Wayne State announces captains

WSU Press Release

Wayne State has announced the student-athletes who will serve as team captains for the 2011-12 season.

Senior forward Alyssa Baldin will wear the 'C' for the second straight year. Baldin is WSU's active scoring leader (seventh all-time in career points), a five-time honor roll student-athlete and has served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Senior defenseman Ciara Lee, senior forward Veronique Laramee-Paquette and junior forward Gina Buquet were named assistant captains.

“We are excited about our leaders for the upcoming season,” said WSU head coach Jim Fetter. “We feel that we have a great combination of captains and we are looking for them to step up and do even a better job at leading this year."

Wayne State will begin its 13th season of women’s hockey in September.

Baldin photo by Mark Hicks/WSU Athletics

Warriors fall again to RMU, season over

By Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

For the second year in a row, the Wayne State Warriors were knocked out of the CHA playoffs by the Robert Morris Colonials in the quarterfinals.

Despite a two-point game from freshman blueliner Cari Coen, the Warriors were doubled up the Colonials 4-2 at the Tennity Pavilion in Syracuse, N.Y., on Thursday afternoon.

Coen factored into both WSU goals, assisting on senior winger Adrianna Pfeffer’s (pictured) power-play marker in the first period and scoring a power-play marker of her own 29 seconds into the third.

The score was knotted at 2-2 following Coen’s second goal of the season, but Brandi Pollock scored at 12:32 for the game-winner and Sara O'Malley picked up an empty-net goal to seal the win.

Goaltender Delayne Brian finished with 31 saves, marking her 21st performance with 30 or more saves this season. Brian also increased her Wayne State single-season record for saves to 978.

Cobina Delaney and Maria Stoa also scored for RMU and Meeri Räisänen made 20 saves in net.

WSU finished the injury-plagued season with an overall mark of 8-21-2, their lowest win total since a ten-win campaign in the 2002-2003 season.

Robert Morris advances to take on top-seeded and 4th-ranked Mercyhurst in the CHA semifinals on Friday afternoon.

Photo courtesy Mark Hicks/ Westside Photography & Wayne State Athletics

A pair of Warriors take home awards

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Two Wayne State University defensemen received All-College Hockey America honors Thursday night at the 2011 CHA Tournament Banquet, held at the Genesee Grand Hotel in Syracuse.

Junior Jill Szandzik (pictured) was selected to the All-CHA Second Team for the second year in a row, and Cari Coen was voted to the CHA All-Rookie Team.

Szandzik entered Thursday’s quarterfinal game against Robert Morris ranked 17th in the nation in points per game by a defenseman (0.67). She ranks fourth in points by a blueliner overall (20) and sixth in terms of conference points only (8). Szandzik is a key contributor on specialty teams, particularly evident by her 12 power-play points during the regular season.

Like Szandzik, Coen has also played in every game this season. She came into Thursday tied for eighth among CHA rookies in points. Coen also had a goal and an assist in Thursday afternoon’s CHA quarterfinal game against Robert Morris.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Hicks/ Westside Photography & Wayne State Athletics

Warriors grounded by NU in finale

by Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors winless streak reached a season-high nine games after getting beaten in two straight games in the regular season finale at CHA rival Niagara.

Despite being outshot 31-18 in regulation, the Warriors (8-20-2, 1-13-2 CHA) forced overtime in Friday’s opener at the Dwyer Arena.

The Purple Eagles scored on the only shot they took in OT when Kathleen Bortuzzo scored on the power play at 1:34.

Delayne Brian (pictured) finished the game with 31 saves.

Jenni Bauer stopped 18 for NU for her fourth shutout of the season and career.

Lauren Coxon and Alyssa Baldin both scored on Saturday as the Warriors dropped a 4-2 decision.

Coxon’s first period goal held up as the only score until the midway point of the third period when NU ripped off three straight unanswered goals by Jenna Hendrikx, Natasha Fryer and Jessica Hitchcock.

Baldin’s team-high 12th goal of the season pulled the Warriors back to within a goal with 2:01 left to play.

Hitchcock buried her second of the game at 19:42 to seal the game for Niagara.

Brian ended up with 27 saves giving her 947 for the season, surpassing Anna VanderMarliere (935; 2000-01) as Wayne State’s new single-season leader.

Bauer turned aside another 32 for NU.

Wayne State will be off next weekend before heading back east to the College Hockey America Tournament, which will face-off Thursday, March 3 in Syracuse, N.Y.

Photo courtesy of Mark Hicks / West Side Photography & WSU Athletics.

WSU gets single point in home finale

by Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors (8-18-2, 1-11-2 CHA) came into the weekend with hopes of leap-frogging the Robert Morris Colonials in the CHA conference standings.

Those hopes faded quickly over a couple of questionably officiated contests that saw the Green and Gold picking up just a point.

Friday the Warriors scraped their way to a 4-4 tie with the Colonials at the City Sports Center.

Trailing 4-2 late in the third, WSU’s leading goal scorer Julie Ingratta notched a marker at 12:39 and another with just 38-seconds remaining to force overtime.

Veronique Laramee-Paquette and Micheline Frappier also scored for Wayne State and Delayne Brian made 37 saves.

Cobina Delaney, Kathryn Stack, Thea Imbrogno, and Sara O’Malley lit the lamp for the Colonials.

Merri Raisanen turned away 27 for RMU.

Saturday’s home finale was decided in a twenty second span as the Colonials stole a 2-1 min on Senior Day.

The Warriors started early, with blueliner Lauren Lovold’s first career goal just 90 seconds into the game.

The goal gave the Warriors their first lead of the weekend and held up until almost the midway point in the second period.

Sara O’Malley tied up the score by bouncing a shot off of Delayne Brian from behind the net at 8:09. Then Courtney Langston tucked one in, just inside the post, at 8:29 for the eventual game winner.

Finnish freshman Merri Raisanen started her tenth straight game between the pipes for RMU and stopped 27 shots in the win.

A total of 19 penalties were called for the second straight game, effectively killing any flow in the game, but the two teams combined for a dismal 0-18 performance with the extra skater.

Brian stopped twenty pucks for WSU who now trail the Colonials by three points in the CHA standings with just two regular season games remaining.

Lone Warrior senior Adrianna Pfeffer (pictured) registered 3 shots on goal in her final game in front of the home crowd. Lovold has totaled 18 points in 108 games at WSU, including a career-best eight this season.

Wayne State will wrap up the season with two games at Niagara next weekend.

Photo courtesy Mark Hicks/ Westside Photography and Wayne State Athletics

WSU's Lee up for humanitarian award

WSU Press Release

Wayne State University junior defenseman Ciara Lee is one of 25 nominees for the 2011 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award, as the list was announced last week.

The BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award is awarded annually to college hockey’s finest citizen and seeks to recognize college hockey players who give back to their community.

Lee, a co-captain for the Warriors in 2010-11, is heavily involved in community services initiatives, particularly College Hockey America's Skate for the Cure program which raises funds and awareness for breast cancer research and prevention. She has helped organize other service endeavors, such as visits to children's hospitals and working in local soup kitchens. Lee also serves on the WSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Photo by Mark Hicks/WSU Athletics

Warriors pick up point against Syracuse

By Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

For the Wayne State Warriors, a six-game homestand was supposed to jumpstart the New Year and get the Warriors into the thick of the CHA conference race.

After getting just a point though last weekend in a pair of games with Syracuse and finishing the run at City Sports with a 1-4-1 record, getting back on the road doesn’t seem like such a bad thing.

Wayne State (8-15-1, 1-8-1 CHA) battled to a 1-1 tie in a seesaw affair on Friday’s, fifth-annual Doc Andrews Scholarship Night.

After trading 32 shots with no score in the first forty minutes of the game, blueliner Jill Szandzik got the scoring with a 5-on-3 power play blast at 2:04 of the third period.

Syracuse’s Isabel Menard tied it up just over two-and-a-half minutes later and despite 29 total shots between the two squads in the period, Wayne State went to overtime for the first time in 29 games.

Due to some spotty penalties being called, the Warriors enjoyed the man advantage for almost the entire overtime session, outshot the Orange 5-0, but were unable to score the game winner.

"We are definitely not satisfied with the tie," said Szandzik. "We had time and time again to capitalize on the power-play, but just didn’t do it."

Kallie Billadeau finished the night with 33 saves for the Orange.

Delayne Brian stopped 31 for WSU.

Ashley Cockell and Stefanie Marty scored just 39 seconds apart on Saturday and that was enough to power the Orange to a 3-1 win.

Micheline Frappier (pictured) scored for WSU at 16:11 of the third, but the comeback bid failed when Isabel Menard netted an empty netter with 51 seconds remaining.

Brian ended up with 26 saves and Jenesica Drinkwater stopped 25 for SU.

"Obviously these were not the results we wanted," said WSU head coach Jim Fetter. "Overall, I thought we played pretty well and there are some positives here. We’re going to have a take a day off and have a good week of practice. We’re going play a very good team and you want that, to challenge you and make you a better club."

With the one point earned over the weekend, the Warriors are now tied with the Robert Morris Colonials for fourth-place in the CHA with three weeks of hockey remaining in the regular season.

Wayne State will move on to Erie, Pa., next weekend for a pair of games with the fourth-ranked Mercyhurst Lakers.

WSU photo courtesy of Mark Hicks/ Westside Photography and WSU Athletics.

Wayne State splits with #10 Quinnipiac

By Tom Balog / WSU Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors were finally able to remember what a win felt like over the weekend as they split a two-game set with the tenth-ranked Quinnipiac Bobcats.

Wayne State snapped a six-game winless skid with a 2-1 win at the City Sports Center on Friday night.

"I thought it was a great game," said Warriors head coach Jim Fetter. "It's always good playing and beating a ranked team. I think tonight was probably the first game in my eight years here that we actually played a solid 60 minutes."

Micheline Frappier opened the scoring as WSU scored on an extended power play at 4:48 of the second period.

The score held until 10:31 of the third when blueliner Jill Szandzik (pictured) scored her second of the season and her second career game-winner.

Despite being heavily outgunned, 15-5, in the final 20 minutes, the Warriors held on for their first win over a ranked opponent since a two-game sweep of then tenth-ranked Northeastern in November 2008.

QU's lone goal was scored on a deflected blast by defenseman Regan Boulton with the extra attacker on with just 1:19 left in the contest.

Delayne Brian started her 21st straight game in net and stopped 28 shots.

Victoria Viglianti turned away 19 for Quinnipiac.

Things did not go as well for the Green and Gold on Saturday as they were shutout for the fifth time this season, 3-0, by the Bobcats.

"We're not shooting with purpose," saidWSU senior forward Adrianna Pfeffer. "We need to start getting pucks to the net and crashing the net. Right now, we're just throwing it in."

Kate Wheeler scored a pair and Vigilanti made 20 saves between the Quinnipiac pipes for her seventh shutout of the season.

Brian finished with the game with 31 saves marking her 16th 30-plus save effort this season and giving her 700 saves for the season, second-highest single-season total in WSU program history.

Amanda Colin also scored as the Bobcats beat the Warriors for the first time in eight chances in Detroit.

Wayne State will wrap up its six-game homestand next weekend with a pair of CHA conference battles against the Syracuse Orange. Friday is Doc Andrews Alumni Night, a special event to raise funds for the Doc Andrews Scholarship Endowment, and there will be a WSU alumni game on Saturday following the Warriors-Orange contest.

Photo courtesy Mark Hicks/WSU Athletics

Niagara sweeps WSU for first time since '05

by Tom Balog / WSU Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors (7-13-0, 1-7-0 CHA) futility streak reached a season-high six games after being swept by CHA rival Niagara at the

City Sports Center over the weekend.

Even though they out-shot the Purple Eagles, 27-15, in the opener, the Warriors opened the New Year with 3-0 shutout loss.

Jessica Hitchcock, Kaleigh Chippy, and Kristen Richards scored and Jenni Bauer stopped every shot she faced for NU.

Delayne Brian made 12 saves for WSU.

The Warriors showed a little more life on Saturday, but were swept by an opponent for the fifth time this season following a 2-1 setback.

All the goal scoring was confined to the first period and after a Daniela Dal Colle marker, Micheline Frappier (pictured) evened the score by tipping in her second of the season at 11:39.

The deadlock didn't last long though with Caitlin Jenkins scoring just under four minutes later to give the Purps a 2-1.

Bauer made it stand up the rest of the way and finished with 25 saves.

Delayne Brian stopped 20 for Wayne State.

Wayne State will play the middle two contests of their six-game home stand against the red-hot Quinnipiac Bobcats next weekend.

Photo Courtesy of Jim Cooper and WSU Athletics.

Wayne State swept at Ohio State

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Wayne State ended 2010 on a down note, losing both games on the road last week to a tough Ohio State squad.

Thursday night, Delayne Brian made 39 saves in a 3-2 loss.

Julie Ingratta and Alyssa Baldin scored 25 seconds apart in the second period for WSU's only offense.

Then Friday afternoon, Brian finished with 40 stops as WSU fell to the Buckeyes, 4-2.

Micheline Frappier (pictured) and Gina Buquet tallied for the Warriors.

Wayne State is off this weekend, but will play six home games in January, beginning with a CHA series Jan. 14-15 at home against Niagara.

Photo by Mark Hicks/WSU

Warriors crushed by Orange

By Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors two-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt with a pair of road conference losses over the weekend at Syracuse.

After posting consecutive shutout wins against Minnesota State the Warriors found themselves on the other end on Friday as the Orange posted a 3-0 whitewash.

Delayne Brian stopped 30 shots in the loss, but Megan Skelly's goal just 59-seconds into the game proved to be the game-winner.

Isabel Menard and Julie Rising also scored for the Orange and Jenesica Drinkwater stopped all 16 shots for her second career shutout.

Syracuse made it five-consecutive wins over Wayne State (7-9-0, 1-5-0 CHA) with a 5-3 victory at the Tennity Ice Pavilion on Saturday.

Jaclyn Stapleton opened the scoring with her first of the season at 10:17 of the first period.

The Orange countered with goals by Menard, Stefanie Marty and Holly Carrie-Mattimoe to take a 3-1 lead by the 8:16 mark of the second period.

Gina Buquet's fourth tally of the season pulled the Warriors to within a goal, but Jessica Sorensen scored the game-winner at 14:15 to seal the win for the Orange.

The Warriors didn't go quietly with Alyssa Baldin scoring her team high ninth goal to make a 4-3 game.

Kelsey Welch iced it for the home team with the final goal at 19:24.

Brian made another 35 saves in the WSU net marking the thirteenth time this season she's stopped at least 30 shots.

Kallie Billadeau turned away 19 pucks for SU.

Wayne State will take a break until Dec. 30-31 at when they play a two-game, year end set at Ohio State.

Photo courtesy Syracuse University / Michael J. Okoniewski

Warriors sweep Minnesota State

by Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

Friday night there were 6 goals in the first 40 minutes of play.

Saturday, there was just 1 in a full 60 minutes.

And in both games not one puck made it's way into the Wayne State (7-7-0, 1-3-0 CHA) net as the Warriors used a pair of different methods to sweep the once hot Minnesota State Mavericks.

Despite being out shot 31-24 on Friday night, the Warriors got goals from six different skaters to blank the Mavericks, 6-0.

Blueliner Cari Coen notched the eventual game winner with her first collegiate goal, scored on the power-play at 11:30 of the opening period.

"We came out with some intensity," said Coen. "We went over the video and noticed they keep the middle open on the PK. We could hear everyone calling middle and I shot it to the middle and we scored. This win gave us a huge confidence boost."

Veronique Laramee-Paquette, Alyssa Baldin, Adrianna Pfeffer, Julie Ingratta, and Julie Hebert rounded out the scoring as WSU set a new season high water mark for goals scored.

Delayne Brian (pictured) was stellar in net again, stopping all 31 shots she faced for her third shutout of the season.

Alli Altmann turned away 15 shots for MSU in just over 55 minutes played. Danielle Butters filled in for 4:47 at the start of the second period and stopped just one shot and also gave up Pfeffer's second goal of the season.

After two scoreless periods on Saturday, Ingratta followed up a shot just 13-seconds into the third period to give the Warriors a 1-0 victory and series sweep.

Brian made another 36 saves for her second consecutive shutout and the eighth of her career.

"The most important thing is that we got two wins in a row and we're back to .500", said Brian. "Putting the puck in the net six times yesterday was definitely a confidence builder for us. We stress through whether we're up six or just one, the back checking, so it's good to see us playing both ends of the ice."

Altmann's lone mistake was on the Ingratta blast and she finished with 22 saves.

After winning four game in a row, the Mavericks have lost four straight to drop to 6-9-1 on the season.

The pair of wins evens the Warriors record at 7-7-0 as they prepare to hit the road for their next four games. The journey will start in upstate New York next weekend with a pair of CHA battles against the Syracuse Orange. Wayne State will close out the year with two games at Ohio State on Dec. 30 and 31.

Photo Courtesy of WSU Athletics

Warriors swept by No. 4 Mercyhurst

by Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

Bad penalties, a short bench and the high-powered offense of the fourth-ranked team in the nation all combined to doom Wayne State at the City Sports Arena over the weekend.

The Warriors played strong in stretches, but eventually fell by final scores of 7-1 and 5-2 at the hands of the Mercyhurst Lakers.

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes on Friday, the Lakers exploded with three goals in the second and four more in the third period to cruise to victory in game one of Skate for the Cure weekend.

Meghan Agosta scored on the power-play, shorthanded and even strength to record the twelfth hat trick of her storied career.

Jess Jones also added a pair of goals and Kelley Steadman and Vicki Bendus scored singles for the Lakers.

Adrianna Pfeffer picked up her first marker of the season late in the second period.

Pfeffer skated in over the blue line and floated a shot in on the Mercyhurst net. Normally steady Hillary Pattenden misplaced the puck and it sailed in under the cross bar to make it a 3-1 game.

Pattenden finished the game with 20 saves while Delayne Brian fought off 27 shots on the opposite end.

Wayne State's already-depleted line-up took another blow late in the game when the Warriors points leader, Julie Ingratta, left the game after an apparent knee-on-knee collision with a Laker. She was a game-time decision and did play in the series finale.

The Warriors (5-7-0, 1-3-0 CHA) gave the Lakers all they could handle through two periods on Saturday afternoon, before shooting themselves in the foot and falling for the 12th consecutive time to their CHA rival.

Despite being out-shot 28-18 over the opening 40 minutes, the Warriors capitalized on their chances and scored twice to lead 2-1.

Veronique Laramee-Paquette gave WSU the lead, scoring from the right win on a 5-on-3 power play at 9:37 of the first period.

After Jess Jones tied the score for the Lakers, Gina Buquet blasted in a one-timer to put the Warriors back up by one.

Mercyhurst came out flying in the third and after Melissa Lacriox cleaned up a loose puck in the crease to tie the game, the Warriors fell apart.

Pamela Zgoda popped in the game winner just over three minutes later and then back-to-back penalties gave the Lakers a 5-3 advantage.

Bendus quickly converted at 7:17 with a two-man advantage and then Christie Cicero added another power play goal 57-seconds later to ice the game.

The frustration didn't end there for the Warriors as Buquet received a five-minute checking from behind penalty and disqualification with just two seconds left in the contest.

Brian was peppered with 45 shots in the game. Hillary Pattenden saw just 20 in the MC net.

The short-staffed Warriors will return to action back at the City Sports Center next weekend with a pair of non-conference games against the Minnesota State Mavericks. The Warriors will be sponsoring a toy drive with the DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan, offering free admission to fans who bring a new toy.

Photo courtesy Tommy Gorman / Wayne State Athletics

Warriors open CHA season with split

By Tom Balog/WSU Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors finished their season-high eight-game road trip and started their CHA schedule on a high note by splitting with the Robert Morris Colonials in Pennsylvania over the weekend.

The Warriors (5-5-0, 1-1-0 CHA) ended with a 4-4 record on their epic journey that started all the way back on October 8 with a 3-0 win at St. Cloud State.

The conference opener didn’t go as well for the Warriors though at the Island Sports Center on Friday night, as they fell to Robert Morris, 3-1.

After a quiet opening twenty minutes, the Colonials opened the scoring with a pair of extra strength markers by Kelsey Thomas and Jennifer Kindret in the second period.

Lauren Ragen scored with a power-play goal at 5:16 of the third period to pull the Warriors to within one, but that’s as close as the Green and Gold would get.

Thea Imbrogno added a late empty-netter as RMU won for the first time in nine games.

WSU was outshot 41-22 in the game, but Delayne Brian was solid again in stopping 38 shots.

Kristen DiCiocco turned away 21 on the other end for RMU.

Alyssa Baldin (pictured) racked up her first career hat trick on Saturday as the Warriors rolled to a 4-1 victory.

Julie Hebert started the scoring with a power-play goal for WSU in the first period and Brian made another 21 saves for her fifth win of the year.

Cobina Delaney scored the lone goal for RMU and DiCiocco made 19 saves for the Colonials who have lost nine of their last 10 games.

Wayne State will finally return to their home ice next weekend as they welcome CHA rival Mercyhurst into the City Sports Arena for a pair of games and Skate for the Cure weekend.

Photo by Mark Hicks/Westside Photography

Warriors sweep through Colgate

By Tom Balog / WSU Beat Writer

After being swept in a pair of games last week at Boston University, the Wayne State Warriors were looking for some kind of a boost as their season long road trip continued.

They certainly got it over the weekend as they rolled into Colgate’s Starr Rink and dominated the home team in a pair of convincing wins.

Friday night was the Delayne Brian show again as the junior stopped all 31 shots she faced for her second shutout of the season and a Warriors 4-0 victory.

Julie Hebert started the scoring with her first of the season at 4:31 of the opening period.

Lauren Ragen, Alyssa Baldin, Gina Buquet all added power-play markers and Jill Szandzik tied a school record with four assists.

Lisa Plenderleith stopped 24 shots for the Raiders.

The Warriors started and ended hot on Saturday as they completed the sweep of the Raiders with a 5-3 win.

Baldin, Veronique Laramee-Paquette, and Buquet all notched first period markers to put the Warriors up by a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Colgate stormed back with three straight goals of their own to tie the score at 3.

Taylor Volpe got Colgate on the board at 10:29 of the second and then Brittany Phillips and Jenna Klynstra scored less then two minutes apart in the third.

Wayne State took advantage of a pressing Colgate team with Szandzik and Julie Ingratta picking up power-play goals to ice the game.

Delayne Brian stopped another 40 in net for WSU and Kimberly Sass turned aside 24 for Colgate.

The Green and Gold will conclude a eight-game road trip and start the CHA portion of their schedule with a pair of games on Nov. 11 & 12 at Robert Morris.

Warriors swept in Beantown

By Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors losing streak reached three games after a pair of losses at #6 Boston University over the weekend.

Freshman sniper Marie-Philip Poulin four goals paced the Terriers in Friday’s 7-2 victory over the Warriors.

Jenn Wakefield, Kasey Boucher, and Tara Watchorn also scored and Kerrin Sperry stopped 14 shots as BU won their third straight game.

Lauren Ragen and Alyssa Baldin each scored even strength goals for the Warriors (2-4-0).

Delayne Brian started between the pipes for Wayne St and stopped 35 shots in just over 52 minutes of play. Freshman Lisa Marshall played the last 7:53 of the game and turned aside the only shot she faced in her first colligate game.

BU outshot WSU 43-16 in the contest.

The Warriors led early on Saturday, but gave up four unanswered goals in a 4-1 loss to Boston U at the Walter Brown Arena.

Julie Ingratta (pictured) lit the lamp in an unassisted 4-on-4 situation at 15:03 of the first period for the Warriors first lead of the weekend.

After scoring just six goals in her freshman season a year ago, the marker was already Ingratta’s team high fifth marker of the season.

Holly Lorms, Wakefield, Jenelle Kohanchuk, and Jill Cardella scored for BU.

Delayne Brian started her sixth straight game in net for WSU and stopped 40 of 44 shots.

Sperry stopped 24 in net for the Terriers.

The Warriors brutal eight-game road trip rolls into Hamilton, NY for a two game set with the Colgate Raiders on Friday and Saturday.

Photo courtesy Mark Hicks / Westside Photography

Warriors blank St. Cloud; fall to Gophers

By Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors (2-2-0) started a daunting eight-game road trip in fine fashion with a weekend split in Minnesota.

Delayne Brian (pictured) made 26 saves on Friday night as the Green and Gold blanked the St. Cloud St. Huskies, 3-0, at the National Hockey Center.

Julie Ingratta recorded her second consecutive two-goal game to lead the Warriors and also assisted on Lauren Ragen's third period power-play marker.

It was the fifth career shutout for Brian and 22nd victory in a Wayne State sweater.

Wayne State had a short turnaround for Saturday’s game, but went toe-to-toe in a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of the No. 4 Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Ridder Arena.

Brian stopped 39 shots in the loss and has stopped 126 blasts in WSU’s last four games.

The only puck to find its way into the back of the net came off the stick of Amanda Kessel at 5:38 of the first period.

On the other end, Noora Raty made 22 saves for her ninth career shutout for the undefeated Gophers who have yet to allow a goal in three regular season games.

The Warriors will continue their road travels this weekend with a pair of games in Beantown vs. the Boston University Terriers at the Walter Brown Arena.

Photo courtesy of Mark Hicks / West Side Photography