 |
 Melissa Boal scored the first of two Warrior goals in the game Friday at MSU. |
Nov. 11, 2005
MANKATO, Minn. - Despite a late third-period surge, the Wayne State women's hockey team was dealt its first loss in four games on Friday, losing 3-2 at Minnesota State.
The first period ended scoreless, but goaltender Valery Turcotte and the Warriors were able to fend off eight Minnesota State shots and kill three of the Mavericks' power plays.
MSU's Kristina Bunker opened the scoring at the 5:00 with a power-play goal, the first the Warriors have surrendered since Oct. 8 at Bemidji State. Noelle Needham and Richelle St. Croix assisted on the goal.
Shera Vis gave the Mavericks a 2-0 lead just 50 seconds later, as Minnesota State outshot WSU, 20-6, through two periods.
The Mavericks made it 3-0 at 5:11 in the third period on Needham's second goal of the season. It would prove to be the game winner, as the Warriors would attempt a comeback late in the contest.
It began at the 9:09 mark with a power-play goal by Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Raiders), who extended her goal-scoring streak to four games. Sarah Campbell (Smithers, B.C./Vancouver Griffins) and Tina Vanderhoeven (London, Ont./London Juniors) each earned an assist on the play.
Turcotte was pulled late in the period to give the Warriors an extra attacker, and the move by coach Jim Fetter paid off as Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) netted her fifth goal of the season with 1:03 to go in the game, assisted by Jessica Snelgrove (Tecumseh, Ont./Team Ontario) and Laura Monk (Mississauga, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres).
Minnesota State was able to hold off WSU for the final minute of play to retain its 3-2 lead for the victory, snapping Wayne State's three-game winning streak.
The Mavericks finished with a 25-18 advantage in shots on goal, despite the Warriors having 12 shots in the third period to the Mavericks' five.
Turcotte made 22 saves in the game, and MSU's Laura Brennan recorded 16 for her first victory of the season.
Wayne State will look to even the series Saturday afternoon, with game time scheduled for 4:07 p.m. local time.
