Feb. 23, 2007

Detroit, Mich. -

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The Wayne State women's hockey team (12-17-1, 4-6-0 CHA/3rd) hosts Robert Morris (11-19-2, 1-9-0 CHA/4th) this Friday and Saturday to end the regular season. Robert Morris is hosting the CHA Playoffs next weekend, Niagara, who has a two-point lead over WSU in the conference standings, host No. 1 Mercyhurst this weekend. Wayne State needs a sweep of Robert Morris and two Niagara losses to be the second seed in the conference tournament.

The Series
Wayne State leads the all-time series, 6-0-0. The Warriors won twice earlier this year in Pittsburgh on Jan. 26-27, 5-2 and 3-2 in overtime.

Behind the Bench
Jim Fetter is in his fourth season at Wayne State and has a record of 54-65-13.

In his first year as a head coach at Robert Morris, Nate Handrahan has a record of 11-19-2.

Scouting the Warriors
Wayne State lost twice at No. 1 Mercyhurst last weekend, 3-1 and 4-2. The Lakers won all four regular season meetings this season, but three of the four games were only two goal contests.

A three-goal first period dug Wayne State in a deep hole in Friday's contest. Sophomore forward Lindsay DiPietro scored a second-period tally.

Saturday's game was back and forth as Mercyhurst led 2-0 before the Warrior comeback. Freshman defenseman Tegan Schroeder cut the deficit to one with a goal just 27 seconds into the third period. After another MC tally, freshman forward Brandi Frakie scored a short-handed marker on a breakaway. It was the first short-handed goal in her career and the first allowed by Mercyhurst this season. Mercyhurst finished the scoring with four minutes left in regulation. Junior goaltender Valery Turcotte made 34 saves in the losing effort. Sophomore forward Melissa Boal was shut out last weekend for only the second time this season, both coming against the Lakers (Jan. 12-13). Boal needs four points to become the all-time leading scorer in Wayne State women's hockey history.

Boal leads the team in goals (22), points (38), power-play goals (10) and short-handed goals (2), while DiPietro is tops with 24 assists.

Turcotte has seen the majority of time in goal and has a record of 8-14-1, a 3.72 goals-against average and a .881 save percentage. Thompson (4-3-0, 3.06, .871) has also seen considerable ice time.

Wayne State has converted 34-of-168 (.202) man-advantage opportunities and killed 128-of-164 (.780) opponent chances.

Saturday's contest against Robert Morris will be "Senior Day" for forward co-captain Laura Monk. Monk will play in her 100th game as a Warrior on Saturday and 129th overall (including one season at the University of Findlay, 2003-04).

Scouting the Colonials
After winning twice at Sacred Heart on Feb. 2-3, Robert Morris has lost four straight, two at Mercyhurst and two against Niagara last weekend.

Friday's contest saw RMU tie the game twice, at 1-1 and 2-2, on goals from Ali Proodian and Jacki Gibson before NU scored two unanswered late in the third period.

Niagara led 2-0 on Saturday on a first-period tally and a third-period marker before the Colonials scored the last goal of the game by Morgan Beikirch with an extra attacker on the ice.

The Colonials are led in scoring by Alissa Dorman with 23 points. Kristen Miles is tops with 14 goals while Maria Olausson leads the team with 17 assists. Megan Picinic has the most power-play goals with six.

Brianne McLaughlin has seen the majority of time between the pipes and has accumulated a record of 8-14-2, a 3.15 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.

Robert Morris has converted 24-of-211 (.114) power-play chances and have killed 154-of-181 (.851) opponent opportunities.

Up Ahead
Wayne State travels to Pittsburgh next weekend (March 2-3) for the College Hockey America Tournament. The Warriors and Niagara play in Friday's first semifinal game at 1 p.m., while the host Colonials test No. 1 Mercyhurst at 4 p.m. The winners of the two semifinals will play for the championship on Saturday at 4 p.m.