 |
 Laura Monk had a goal and an assist in Friday's 5-3 loss to Wisconsin. |
Jan. 6, 2006
DETROIT, Mich. - Wayne State's women's hockey team was defeated, 5-3, by a tough Wisconsin team on Friday night at City Sports Center Arena, despite the third-ranked Badgers missing three key players currently with the Canadian U-22 team in Germany.
Wisconsin now leads the all-time series, 4-0-0, but prior to this game Wayne State had only managed one goal in the entire series.
That statistic changed just 62 seconds into the game, as freshman Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) capitalized on a UW turnover and made a nice move across the crease to beat Badger goaltender Meghan Horras on the far post for her CHA-leading 14th goal of the season. Laura Monk (Mississauga, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) earned an assist on the play, and the Warriors had a 1-0 lead through the first period.
Wisconsin came out strong in the second period, however, and tied the game just 26 seconds into the stanza. Nikki Burish netted her fourth of the season, with assists from Cyndy Kenyon and Emily Morris on what looked to be a deflected puck that beat Valery Turcotte (Jonquiere, Que./Royal Metabetchouan) on the near post.
Wayne State answered at 8:10, as the Poyton-Monk combination produced the Warriors' second goal of the evening. Poyton created a turnover and skated up the boards before finding Monk on a centering pass, who scored her first of the season to put WSU back in the lead.
Wisconsin would close out the period with three unanswered goals, including two by Jinelle Zaugg and the eventual game-winner by Rachel Bible, her first of the season, and heading into the final 20 minutes of play, the Badgers held a 4-2 lead.
Tina Vanderhoeven (London, Ont./London Juniors/Team Ontario) brought Wayne State back within one with her third goal of the season, slapping a loose rebound from inside the blue line past Horras. Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Raiders) and Kristy Leng (Lindenhurst, Ill./Wisconsin Wild) assisted on the goal, which made it a 4-3 game in favor of the Badgers.
Turcotte was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:21 remaining in the game, but Zaugg would seal the win for Wisconsin on an empty-net goal with 16 seconds left, earning a hat trick and her 16th goal of the season in the process.
Horras made 14 saves and earned her 10th victory of the season. Turcotte saved 21 shots, including 10 in the second period, for the Warriors.
Only two penalties were called in the game, with each team going 0-for-1 on the power play.
Wayne State will look to split the weekend series with Wisconsin tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
