PHOTO GALLERY
DETROIT - In its final home game of the 2009-10 regular season, the Wayne State women's hockey team (8-14-4, 4-7-1 CHA) lost a
4-2 decision to Niagara (11-12-5, 6-5-3 CHA) on Saturday afternoon at the City Sports Center.
Wayne State's 1-0 lead in the first period was erased by three straight Niagara goals. The Warriors and Purple Eagles each scored once in the third, as Niagara held on to win in Detroit for the first time since Dec. 16, 2006.
Lindsey Park (Thornhill, Ont./Toronto Jr. Aeros), one of four seniors recognized before the game - along with
Chelsea Burnett (Ridgeway, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres),
Christine Jefferson (Nepean, Ont./NCCP Jr. Raiders) and
Katrina Protopapas (Chatham, Ont./Bluewater Hawks) - as part of Senior Day, totaled 22 saves in her first start since Jan. 9 against Vermont.
Providing the offense for the Warriors was
Micheline Frappier (Val Caron, Ont./Sudbury Lady Wolves), who scored her fourth goal of the year in the first period, and
Lauren Ragen (Grosse Ile, Mich./Connecticut Polar Bears), who netted her third of the season in the third period.
Both Warrior goals came as a result of key faceoff wins in the Niagara zone. Over midway through the first, Frappier drew the puck over to
Alyssa Baldin (Mississauga, Ont./Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) and positioned herself in front of the net. Frappier then redirected a shot from Baldin past NU goaltender Jenni Bauer to give WSU a 1-0 lead at 12:02.
Moments later, during a Warrior power-play, Caitlin Jenkins had a short-handed breakaway opportunity stymied by Park with just over 5:30 left in the opening period. On the ensuing faceoff, however, Sarah Connelly pulled the puck back to Leah Whittaker, who fired in on Park and scored her third of the year at 14:38.
Jenna Hendrikx's 13th of the season at 7:11 of the second period put Niagara ahead, and a hard wrist shot over the blocker of Park at 16:42 by Jennifer MacLean proved to be the game-winner.
Just over four minutes into the third, Ragen won a faceoff and pulled the puck back to
Jill Szandzik (Warren, Mich./Little Caesars). Ragen repositioned herself down low and deflected a low shot from Szandzik to bring WSU back within a goal.
Daniela Dal Colle sealed the win for the Purple Eagles, however, at 16:20 with her fourth goal of the season, putting in a loose puck on a power-play after a scramble in front of Park.
Shots on goal favored Wayne State, 32-26, as 19 of the 58 total shots came on power plays.
Wayne State is on the road for two weeks at Mercyhurst (Feb. 19-20) and Robert Morris (Feb. 26-27).
