Feb. 7, 2007

Detroit, Mich. -

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The Wayne State women's hockey team (11-14-1, 3-3-0 CHA) continues its season-high eight-game road trip at Niagara (7-16-5, 2-4-0 CHA) on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9-10. Friday's contest is set to start at 7:00 p.m. while Saturday's game begins at 2:00 p.m. Two points separate second-place Wayne State and third-place Niagara in the conference standings.

The Series
Niagara leads the all-time series, 15-7-0. The teams split a pair in Detroit back in December, with Niagara ermerging victorious on Dec. 16, 6-3, and WSU winning the next day, 4-2.

Behind the Bench
Jim Fetter is in his fourth season at Wayne State and has a record of 53-62-13.

In her seventh year at Niagara, Margot Page has a record of 117-122-25.

Scouting the Warriors
Halfway through its eight-game road trip, Wayne State was idle last weekend.

The Warriors won two games at Robert Morris two weeks ago, 5-2 and 3-2 in overtime.

Sophomore forward Melissa Boal scored her second-career hat trick in Friday's contest, setting a new WSU career record. One of her tallies was short-handed, tying a record (with Heidi Burns) for career short-handed goals with two and setting a record for most short-handed goals in a season.

On Saturday, WSU took a 2-1 lead on a second-period tally from freshman forward Katrina Protopapas and a third-period marker from freshman blueliner Chelsea Burnett. After RMU tied the game at two on a goal by Kristen Miles with 41 seconds left in regulation, the Warriors won the game on sophomore forward Sam Poyton's goal just eight seconds into the extra period, setting a record for the fastest goal to start an overtime period.

Boal leads the team in goals (21), points (35), power-play goals (10) and short-handed goals (2), while sophomore forward Lindsay DiPietro is tops with 22 assists.

Junior netminder Valery Turcotte has seen the majority of time in goal and has a record of 8-11-1, a 3.57 goals-against average and a .884 save percentage.

Wayne State has converted 31-of-138 (.225) man-advantage opportunities and killed 106-of-137 (.774) opponent chances. WSU's power play is ranked ninth in the nation.

Scouting the Purple Eagles
After shutting out Quinnipiac, 5-0, in Connecticut on Jan. 26, Niagara has lost three in a row and four of its last five games. The most recent setbacks came at No. 1 Mercyhurst last weekend, 3-1 and 7-2. In both games against the Lakers, the Purple Eagles drew first blood, but could not finish the job.

Sophomore forward Ashley Riggs leads the team in points (20) and power-play goals (5). She is also tied for the team lead in goals (8) with freshman forward Mary McKinnon. McKinnon owns the squad's only short-handed tally.

Senior goaltender Allison Rutledge has seen the majority of time between the pipes and has a record of 7-16-5, a 2.74 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

The Purple Eagles have converted 20-of-166 (.120) power play opportunities and have killed 153-of-184 (.832) opponent chances.

WSU and NU have played seven common opponents this season: New Hampshire, Colgate, Cornell, Clarkson, Robert Morris, Quinnipiac and Mercyhurst. The Warriors are 7-5-1, while the Purple Eagles are 4-7-2.

Up Ahead
Wayne State ends its road trip with a visit at No. 1 Mercyhurst on Feb. 16-17 before returning for its home finale against Robert Morris on Feb. 23-24.