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 Poyton had three points, including two goals, on Saturday against the Huskies. |
Nov. 5, 2005
DETROIT, Mich. - The Warrior women's hockey team won its third consecutive game on Saturday, defeating the University of Connecticut Huskies, 3-2, at City Sports Center Arena.
Freshman Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) scored two goals, including the game-winner, and assisted on a third to lead the Warriors to a sweep of the visiting Huskies.
Wayne State got its first goal following a scramble in front of the UConn net. Lindsay DiPietro (Manotick, Ont./Ottawa Lady Senators) and Poyton each got a close-range shot off before Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Raiders) picked up the loose puck and beat UConn goaltender Brittany Wilson glove-side to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead at 11:07 in the first period.
Boal nearly had another goal at the 6:18 mark when she intercepted a pass in the UConn zone, but Wilson made a nice pad save, one of 19 saves she made in the game.
Poyton earned her first goal of the game on a power-play at 9:29 in the second period, putting in the rebound of a long slapshot from Sarah Campbell (Smithers, B.C./Vancouver Griffins). Campbell and Boal each earned an assist on the play.
A pair of penalties put WSU at a two-skater disadvantage for over a minute and a half late in the period, but the defense held and UConn was unable to capitalize. The Huskies nearly scored, however, as the power-play ended when a wide-open Kristen Russell tried to beat Warrior goaltender Valery Turcotte (Jonquiere, Que./Royal Metabetchouan) high on the stick side, but Turcotte made a tough save to keep the Huskies scoreless.
The Huskies had another 5-on-3 opportunity with 14 minutes remaining in the game, but the Warriors held their ground again, as UConn was 0-for-7 on power-plays in the game.
Wayne State put together a nice power-play to score its third goal, as Peyton Patterson (Brampton, Ont./Toronto Sting) found Boal on the left side, who passed it on to DiPietro in the corner. DiPietro sent the puck across the goal to Poyton, who put it in glove-side on Wilson for the eventual game-winner at 8:42 in the final period.
UConn answered with its first goal of the series, as Brianna Uliasz ripped a shot from the blueline wide of the net on the near post to where Leslie Hurlburt was positioned. Hurlburt took the puck around and sent it to Jaclyn Hawkins, who found the back of the net with just 5:27 remaining.
The goal was the first Turcotte had allowed in the last 177:36, setting a new school record. She had 17 saves in the game.
The Huskies pulled Wilson for an extra attacker with 1:40 to go, and the move paid off as Elizabeth Gallinaro scored to make it 3-2 with 25 seconds remaining. Hawkins and Uliasz each earned an assist on the play.
The Warriors were able to hold the lead until the end, however, to sweep the series.
Wayne State outshot UConn, 22-19, and Boal (three games), Poyton (four), and DiPietro (five) each extended their scoring streaks.
The Warriors will travel to 10th-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato next weekend, Nov. 11-12.
