The Warriors’ top forward line has shattered almost every Wayne State women’s individual hockey record — and they’re not done yet. Only four games into their final season, senior forwards Melissa Boal, Lindsay DiPietro and Sam Poyton have continued to build their monumental numbers, making their marks just that much more permanent.
Some of the records the trio has demolished in the past three years include goal scoring and assists, and not just by a few measly points.
The previous record holder, Kelly Zamora, notched 34 goals and 55 assists in her collegiate career. Boal, who currently holds the record for goals, has scored 91 goals in her time at WSU, while DiPietro has tallied 105 assists. Poyton remains hot on Boal’s trail with 84 goals.
The three combined scored more than 70 percent of the Warriors goals last season.
The list goes on. With so many records and achievements, it would appear that the three are in competition.
“I encourage my linemates. If they want to go out and score seven goals a game, and we’re winning, go for it,” said Boal, who denied the notion of a competition.
Poyton, who set single-season school records for goals (38), game-winning goals (13), power-play goals (11) and points in a series (9), noted that playing on the same line with two other talented players makes each of them better.
“I think one of the things that’s good about our line is that we don’t even think about it,” Poyton said. “We just go out and make plays and have fun.”
The trio was not always on the same line though, according to head coach Jim Fetter.
“Last year was the first time we put them together on a line for the season,” Fetter said. It was apparent, though, that the women worked well together when they first arrived at Wayne State in their freshman year.
It’s this sense of camaraderie that is likely responsible for the trio’s accomplishments.
Along with this sense of friendship, comes a host of commonalities. All three Ontario natives are left-handed and started playing boy’s hockey at 4 years old. Both DiPietro and Boal are finance majors and self-described as “from the country” and Poyton is a kinesiology major. Even when it comes down to their plans for the future, the three are in unison.
“No idea,” said Boal, DiPietro and Poyton.
Now in their final season at WSU, the linemates find themselves becoming mentors to their teammates, which include nine freshmen.
“They have high expectations obviously, but they treat [us] really well,” said freshman right wing Micheline Frappier.
The three will definitely leave a legacy that will test time, both in the record book and with their passing of the torch to the newest wave of Wayne State icers.
“They’re super supportive. They’re all leaders, and it gives [us] something to look up to,” said freshman defenseman Jill Szandzik.
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