University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHER WOMEN CLAIM HOCKEY NATIONAL TITLE
3/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
After Brown (25-4-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Kim Insalaco's goal with three minutes, 42 seconds to play in the first period, Minnesota was forced to overcome an early deficit for the second night in a row.
The Gophers (32-6-1) began the charge when Courtney Kennedy carried the puck into the Brown zone on the right wing, drove to the net and converted her own rebound at the 4:47 mark.
The score remained that way until late in the period when Laura Slominski scored on a shot from near the Brown goalline.
Minnesota would score its last two goal from sharp angles as well. Muzerall got the game-winner just 3:43 into the final period when she beat Bear goalie Ali Brewer with a wrist shot from near the goalline to the right of the Brown goal.
Winny Brodt scored 58 seconds later when she carried the puck into the Bears' zone on the left side and began to circle behind the net. However, Brewer moved too soon and, when Brodt saw the opening, fired into upper corner of the net to give the Gophers a 4-1 lead.
Brown mounted a comeback, getting a short-handed goal from Kristy Zamora. Killewald, who earned tournament MVP honors, would not be beaten after that. She stopped 17 of 18 shots in the final period and had 34 saves for the game. In two games, Killewald recorded 74 saves while allowing just four goals.
Brodt, Kennedy and Muzerall all earned all-tournament honors along with Killewald's MVP award.
The title for Minnesota is the first national championship in women's athletics and the school's first title since the men won the 1979 NCAA hockey championship.
