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 Kristy Leng had three assists in Saturday's 4-2 win over RPI. |
Jan. 21, 2006
DETROIT, Mich. - In the first-ever series between the Wayne State (8-12-4) and Rensselaer (13-3-2) women's hockey teams, the Warriors swept the Engineers by securing a 4-2 victory Saturday afternoon at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum.
Kari Rabatin put RPI in front, 1-0, at 12:37 in the first period, as she collected a rebound off a shot from Julie Welte for her second goal of the season.
The Warriors were on fire in the second period, however, as they scored four goals and made a significant impact on the WSU record books.
Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Raiders) scored her 10th goal of the season at 5:13 to tie the game. Tina Vanderhoeven (London, Ont./London Juniors/Team Ontario) sent a pass up the boards to Kristy Leng (Lindenhurst, Ill./Wisconsin Wild) in the corner, who fed Boal as the freshman skated into the face-off circle and beat RPI goaltender Ashley Mayr.
With her assist, Vanderhoeven has 10 points on the season, tying the school record for points by a rookie defenseman.
Freshman Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres), who set a new WSU single-season record for goals in Friday's game, scored her 17th of the season, on a power-play, at 7:33 to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. Danielle Wilson (Gravenhurst, Ont./Toronto Aeros) started the play as she sent a pass up the ice to Boal, who skated with Poyton in a 2-on-1 situation. Boal found Poyton with a centering pass and earned an assist along with Wilson.
The goal marks the Warriors' 18th power-play goal of the season, setting a new record. Additionally, Boal moved into a tie for first on the school's single-season assists list with 18.
After a scramble for the puck in front of the crease, Boal netted her second goal of the game at 12:43 to increase WSU's lead to 3-1. Leng and Lindsay DiPietro (Manotick, Ont./Ottawa Lady Senators) assisted on the goal.
Boal has 29 points on the season, which ties the single-season record.
Laura Monk (Mississauga, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) capped off the period with her second goal of the season at 15:45 to give the Warriors a 4-1 lead. Rachael Benninger (Huntington Beach, Calif./California Selects) found Leng along the boards, who sent a pass forward that was deflected into open ice. Monk was able to catch up to the puck and, on a breakaway, made a nice move to beat Mayr high on the glove side.
Leng's three assists set a school record for assists in a period, and tied the record for points in a period.
Through the first two periods, Wayne State held a 20-8 advantage in shots on goal over RPI. The Engineers attempted to rally, however, outshooting the Warriors, 10-2, in the third period and narrowing the deficit to two goals.
Melanie Guillemette scored her fifth of the season, as she took a slap shot from the blue line that got past a screened Valery Turcotte (Jonquiere, Que./Royal Metabetchouan). Jaime Jacquard-Sowa and Sarah Daniel were credited with the assists.
With Mayr on the bench for an extra attacker, RPI attempted to close the gap late in the contest. Boal, meanwhile, nearly recorded a hat trick on the empty net, but was tripped in the final minute of the game by Emily Donowick.
Turcotte finished with 16 saves for the Warriors, while Mayr stopped 18 WSU shots.
The Warriors will travel to CHA opponent Robert Morris next weekend, Jan. 27-28, for their first-ever meetings with the Colonials.
