Sept. 29, 2007

TORONTO - Behind a hat trick from junior Melissa Boal, the Wayne State University women's hockey team opened the 2007-08 season in style cruising to a 6-1 exhibition game win over York University at the Ice Gardens. Boal also added an assist in addition to her three goals.

The Warriors offense hit on all cylinders scoring six goals on 35 shots with 10 assists. Junior Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) led WSU with four assists while sophomore Katrina Protopapas (Chatham, Ont./Bluewater Hawks) added two. Sophomores Chelsea Burnett (Ridgeway, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) and Brandi Frakie (St. Louis Park, Minn./Minnesota Thoroughbreds) and junior Becky Sonn (Waupaca, Wis./Madison Capitols) also added a goal each.

On defense, WSU allowed only one goal with its trio of goalies combining for 26 saves. Senior Valery Turcotte (Jonquiere, Quebec/Royal Metabetchouan) notched a team high 11 saves. Freshman Paige Kerenan (Livonia, Mich./Shattuck-St. Mary's) added nine saves along with six from senior Tiffany Thompson (Dryden, Ont./Thunder Bay Queens).

Wayne State got on the board first at the 3:04 mark of the first period on Boal's first goal assisted by junior Lindsay DiPietro (Manotick, Ont./Ottawa Lady Senators) and Poyton. York tied the game at 1-1 on a goal from Mandy Cole with an assist from Autumn Mills at the 11:09 mark.

WSU blew the game open in the second period scoring four goals with the first coming at the 3:16 mark off the stick of Burnett assisted by Protopapas. Frakie's goal, assisted by Boal and Poyton, gave the Warriors a 3-1 lead with 12:21 remaining. Sonn added another goal assisted by freshman Janet Babchishin (Sturgis, Sask./Saskatchewan Prairie Ice) and Poyton at the 13:54 mark. Boal closed out the period scoring her second goal, assisted by Poyton, with 15:25 remaining to give WSU a commanding 5-1 lead.

At the 10:30 mark of the third period, Boal completed the hat trick with her third goal on assists from Protopapas and Poyton to close out the Warriors' 6-1 victory.

Wayne State plays its first two-game series of the season on the road at Clarkson in Potsdam, N.Y. Game one is scheduled for Friday Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. with game two Saturday Oct. 6 at noon.