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GAME STORYLINES
For the first time since opening the regular season Oct. 1-2, the Wayne State University women's hockey team (5-5-0, 1-1-0 CHA) will play at home in Detroit as the Warriors host the fourth-ranked Mercyhurst College Lakers (7-2-0, 1-0-0 CHA) this weekend at the City Sports Center. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday and 2:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.

This weekend is the sixth annual Skate for the Cure event, as College Hockey America continues its initiative to fight breast cancer.

In their first competitive action since Oct. 23, the Warriors split their first conference series of the year at Robert Morris last weekend, losing the first game, 3-1, before earning a 4-1 victory in the second. The Lakers, who were idle last week, lost a 4-3 overtime result Nov. 6 at Niagara.


BEHIND THE BENCH
Jim Fetter is 114-107-22 in his eighth season at the helm of the WSU women's hockey program. He is a three-time College Hockey America (CHA) Coach of the Year and was named Women's Division I Coach of the Year by the American Hockey Coaches Association in 2008.

Michael Sisti has a career record of 289-80-26 in his 12th season at Mercyhurst.


THROUGH THE YEARS
Wayne State trails Mercyhurst, 2-42-3, in the all-time series dating back to 2000. The Warriors have lost 10 straight to the Lakers since a 3-2 overtime win at WSU on Feb. 23, 2008.


IN THE POLLS
Mercyhurst and Wayne State were predicted to finish in first and fifth place, respectively, by the CHA head coaches in the 2010-11 preseason poll. The Lakers, who made it to the NCAA Frozen Four each of the last two seasons, are also ranked fourth in both the USCHO.com and the USA Today/USA Hockey Division I national polls.


SCOUTING MERCYHURST
The 4-3 overtime setback to the Purple Eagles on Nov. 6 was just the second loss of the season for the Lakers, who were coming off a 4-3 overtime victory at second-ranked Cornell four days earlier. While the Mercyhurst offense continues to score at a torrid pace (5.22 goals per game, best in the nation), the Lakers have surrendered 14 goals over the last four games (2-2-0) after allowing only five goals over their first five games (5-0-0).

Mercyhurst boasts three of the top seven point scorers in the nation - senior Meghan Agosta (10-9--19), senior Vicki Bendus (6-12--18) and junior Bailey Bram (8-9--17). Agosta is a three-time All-American and was the MVP for women's ice hockey in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Junior goaltender Hillary Pattenden has started all nine games this season. She has a 2.18 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. The win over Cornell on Nov. 2 was the 60th of her career.


LAST TIME OUT
Wayne State dropped its conference opener, 3-1, at Robert Morris on Friday afternoon. Despite being out-shot 41-22, the Warriors were down by only one after Lauren Ragen's power-play goal at 5:16 of the third period. Thea Imbrogno scored an empty-netter with 52 seconds remaining in regulation, however, to seal it.

After a scoreless first period, power-play goals by Kelsey Thomas and Jennifer Kindret put the Colonials, who came in having lost eight straight games, ahead by a pair in the second intermission.

The teams combined for 31 shots on goal in the third period. Ragen's tally from Jill Szandzik cut the deficit in half but was the only blemish of the afternoon for Kristen DiCiocco, who made 21 saves.

Alyssa Baldin earned her first career hat trick as the Warriors defeated the Colonials, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon to split the weekend series. Baldin scored the game-winning goal early in the second period and added two tallies in the third.

Julie Hebert scored the first goal of the game, and Veronique Laramee-Paquette assisted on both third-period markers for her second multiple-point game of the year.

Delayne Brian's only blemish on a 21-save performance was a second period tally by Cobina Delaney.


CONFERENCE KUDOS
Baldin and Brian were selected as the Player and Goaltender of the Week, respectively, by College Hockey America.

Baldin's hat trick Saturday at Robert Morris was the first by a Warrior since Melissa Boal lit the lamp four times against RMU on Jan. 17, 2009. She scored the game-winner early in the second period and added two tallies in the third.

Brian totaled 59 saves in the split with the Colonials. She made 38 saves and allowed just two power-play goals Friday, and stopped 21 of 22 shots in Saturday's win. Brian leads the CHA and ranks seventh nationally with a .935 save percentage.

This is Brian's fourth CHA Goaltender of the Week award this season. She was also named Goaltender of the Month for October.


WARRIORS MOVING UP RANKS
Baldin moved into a tie for ninth all-time in points (47) with Emily McGrath-Agg (2002-05) and Tina Vanderhoeven (2005-09). She ranks eighth in career goals (25), surpassing Jessica Haydahl (2002-06) and is in a four-way tie for seventh with four career game-winning goals.

Szandzik, who had a helper in each game at RMU, is tied with Katie Jones (2000-04) for eighth place on the career assists list (31). She moved into sole possession of eighth place in power-play points (21) and broke into the top 10 in CHA points (16) and assists (12).

With her 25th career win on Saturday, Brian surpassed Anna VanderMarliere (2000-04) for second place on the all-time wins list at Wayne State, trailing only Valery Turcotte (2004-08) who has 46 wins. Brian, who currently has the highest career winning percentage in school history (.541), also passed Tina Thibideau (2001-05) for third place in games played (50).


SKATE FOR THE CURE
In anticipation of the sixth annual Skate for the Cure weekend, the WSU women's hockey team has engaged in several fundraising activities this fall.

The Warriors have been selling t-shirts, pink pucks, cupcakes and ribbons in the days leading up to the conference-wide event. Hockey student-athletes were also present at home football and volleyball games this fall to continue their fundraising efforts.

Proceeds from the Skate for the Cure campaign will go to benefit the American Cancer Society.


LOOKING AHEAD
The Warriors will play the second of back-to-back home series next weekend against Minnesota State (Nov. 26-27). Wayne State will travel to Syracuse the following weekend (Dec. 3-4) and, following exams and holidays, will close out the calendar year Dec. 30-31 at Ohio State.