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 Junior Sam Poyton led the way for WSU with two goals and an assist to earn No. 1 star of the game honors |
Jan. 6, 2008
DETROIT - The Wayne State University women's hockey team skated to a 3-3 tie against #4 Minnesota Sunday afternoon at the City Sports Center. This marks only the third time in the program's history that WSU has tied a nationally ranked opponent. The Warriors tied both #7 Princeton and #5 Mercyhurst, 2-2, during the 2005-06 season.
WSU moves to 8-6-2 while Minnesota is 14-4-2 on the season and is now unbeaten in nine consecutive games.
Special teams were once again a factor in the contest as both teams were solid on the power-play. Wayne State went 2-for-7 with the extra man advantage while Minnesota went 2-for-6.
Junior Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) led the way for WSU with two goals and an assist to earn No. 1 star of the game honors. Junior Tina Vanderhoeven (London, Ont./London Juniors/Team Ontario) also notched a goal and assist from her blueline position earning No. 3 star accolades. Junior Lindsay DiPietro (Manotick, Ont./Ottawa Lady Senators) added two assists while junior Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Radiers) and sophomore Brandi Frankie (St. Louis Park, Minn./Minnesota Thoroughbreds) also notched an assist each.
The Golden Gophers were led by Bobbi Ross who notched three assists while Gigi Marvin, Anya Miller and Brittany Francis scored a goal each.
Defensively, both goaltenders were solid in net. Senior Valery Turcotte (Jonquiere, Quebec/Royal Metabetchouan) made 27 saves while Minnesota's Jenny Lura notched 31. Neither allowed a goal after the second period.
WSU took a 1-0 lead at the 5:25 mark on a power-play goal from Vanderhoeven assisted by DiPietro and Poyton. Minnesota would respond with an even strength goal from Francis and power-play marker from Marvin to take a 2-1 advantage.
In the second period, Poyton stuffed in a rebound from a shot by Frankie to tie the game at 2-2. The Warriors went ahead for the second time, 3-2, as Poyton struck again at the 10:30 mark burying the puck in the net from a feed across the crease from DiPietro and Boal for WSU's second power-play goal of the game.
Miller capitalized on a power-play opportunity with only 50 seconds remaining the second period to tie the game at 3-3.
Both teams' defenses stepped up during the third period as the game remained tied heading into overtime.
In the extra frame, WSU took a penalty just 48 seconds in but Minnesota was unable to capitalize with the man advantage. The Golden Gophers would return the favor taking a too many players on the ice penalty at the 3:24 mark. However, WSU was unable to find the back of the net as time expired.
WSU hosts the Maine Blackbears in a two-game series on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11-12. Both games are at 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively.
