Jan. 24, 2008

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WARRIORS BEGIN CONFERENCE PLAY: The Wayne State University women's hockey team will open its CHA conference schedule at Robert Morris. WSU leads the all-time series with a perfect 8-0-0 record winning the last meeting, 3-1, Feb. 24, 2007. The Warriors enter the contest with a 5-3-0 road record this season and are currently unbeaten in their five games.

SCOUTING THE COLONIALS: Robert Morris enters the series with a 10-13-1 overall record and 0-2-0 mark in conference play. Last weekend, the Colonials dropped a pair of non-conference games to Rensselaer, 1-0 and 3-1 (Jan. 18-19). Robert Morris has a well balanced offense led by freshman Sara O'Malley with 13 points (nine goals, four assists) and junior Megan Picinic with 12 points (five goals, seven assists). In addition, 10 other players have double-digit point totals. Defensively, junior Brianne McLaughlin has been solid in net leading the conference with a .992 save percentage while ranking second with a 2.53 goals-against average (gaa).

RINK REWIND: WSU concluded its six-game homestand with a series sweep against Quinnipiac University (Jan. 18-19). In the 6-2 win, the Warriors were led by juniors Lindsay DiPietro (Manotick, Ont./Ottawa Lady Senators) and Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) who each notched two goals while junior Sammi Bowers (Littleton, Colo./Colorado Selects) recorded her first career hat trick leading the Warriors to a 5-2 win in the series finale.

JEFFERSON PICKS UP FIRST CAREER CHA HONOR: Sophomore defenseman Christine Jefferson (Nepean, Ont./NCCP Junior Raiders) was named CHA Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career (Jan. 21). Jefferson was a key component at both ends of the rink against Quinnipiac (Jan. 18-19). She scored the first goal of Friday's game (Jan. 18) and had two assists on Saturday (Jan. 19) including one on the game-winner. Defensively, Jefferson finished with a +4 plus/minus rating and anchored the WSU blueline which held the Bobcats to a 0-for-10 series power-play mark and 31 total shots on goal.

SECOND PERIOD RECORDS: WSU tallied three team records in its 6-2 win against Quinnipiac (Jan. 18) all occurring in the second period. The Warriors tied a school record for goals in a period with five and set two additional marks in period assists and points with 10 and 15 respectively.

LENDING A HELPING HAND: Sophomore defenseman Chelsea Burnett (Ridgeway, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) tied a school record with a career-high four assists in WSU's 6-2 win over Quinnipiac (Jan. 18).

HOT BETWEEN THE PIPES: Senior Valery Turcotte (Jonquiere, Quebec/Royal Metabetchouan) is unbeaten over the last five games with a 4-0-1 mark and 91 saves, a 1.97 goal-against average and one shutout.

HIGH POWERED OFFENSE: The Warriors are first in the conference and third in the country in scoring offense with 78 goals (3.90 g/gm).

POWER UP: WSU's power-play ranks ninth nationally ninth nationally with 25 goals in 119 chances (21.0%).

WARRIOR FRONT LINE AMONG NATION'S BEST: Members of WSU's top scoring line are ranked in many national offensive categories. Junior Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Radiers) ranks second on the team accumulating 42 points (24 goals, 18 assists) and leads the nation in points-per-game (2.21, 42 total) is second in goals-per-game (1.26, 24 total). She is also fourth in short-handed goals (.11, two total) and power-play goals (.37 ppg, seven total) and eight in assists per game (.95, 18 total). Poyton is second in the nation in points-per-game (2.20, 44 total) and game-winning goals (8 total), third in goals-per-game (1.15, 23 total), fifth in power-play goals (.35, seven total) and assists-per-game (1.05, 21 total). She leads the team with 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists). DiPietro leads the country in assists-per-game (1.50, 30 total) and is sixth in points-per-game (1.94, 39 total). She is third on the team with 39 points (nine goals, 30 assists).

BOWERS JOINS TEAM, HAS IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Bowers has made an immediate impact since joining the team earlier this month after transferring from North Dakota. She recorded her first career hat trick leading the Warriors to a 5-2 win over Quinnipiac (Jan. 19.) In just her third game in a WSU uniform, she scored two goals to lead the women's hockey team to a 5-0 victory over Maine (Jan. 11). The win marked the first for the Warriors in nine games vs. the Black Bears. Last season, Bowers played 35 of 36 games, tied for the team lead in goals (5) and points (8) and also led the squad with three power-play goals. She also set the Fighting Sioux single-season mark with 106 penalty minutes.

TIP YOUR HAT: With Boal, Poyton and Bowers' combined four hat tricks this season, the team set the all-time single season record for hat tricks eclipsing the old mark of two.

COMMISSIONER'S CUP: WSU finished with a 2-1 mark in Commissioners' Cup competition recording a 5-2 win over Quinnipiac (Jan. 19) and 7-1 victory over Union (Oct. 19) coupled with a 7-3 setback at Colgate (Nov. 24). For the second straight year, the commissioners of the four NCAA Division I women's ice hockey conferences sponsored a competition for the Women's Commissioners' Cup. A total of 30 different programs participated in the 20-game schedule that opened up with two games on Saturday, October 13. Last year's inaugural competition was captured by the WCHA.