University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Hockey Wins First NCAA Championship; Wendell Named MVP
3/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Harvard jumped out to an early lead tacking on the first goal of the game at 12:48 of the first period. Crimson's Kat Sweet went top-shelf just after a Harvard power play expired. Although the Gophers outshot the Crimson, 13-7, they were unable to put the puck in the net.
The Gophers however, put the game back to a 1-1 draw when Darwitz scored at 4:51 of the second period. The Gopher line of Darwitz, Stephens and Wendell combined for an odd-man rush for the top-shelf goal. Wendell passed it to Stephens, who fired it cross ice for the goal. The Crimson scored a power-play goal at 12:21 of the second to regain the lead. Horak was able to stop the initial shot, but was not able to stop the second to allow her second goal of the game, third of the tournament. However, Minnesota tied the game at 17:49 of the second by a goal from freshman forward Andrea Nichols. La Toya Clarke fired a perfect pass to Nichols, who fed it through the slot. The Gophers had 16 shots in the second period alone, while Horak faced 12, stopping 11.
From then on it was all Minnesota, scoring four goals in the third stanza. The Gophers put Harvard to the test, scoring two goals with 00:32 elapsed in the third. Wendell won the third-period opening faceoff and passed it to Darwitz at the blue line. Darwitz fired the shot, found her own rebound and rifled in a shot past Harvard goalie Ali Boe's left shoulder. With only 00:09 off the clock, Darwitz set an NCAA record for the fastest goal coming out of an intermission. The Gophers then cushioned the lead when Kell y Stephens scored her third goal of the Frozen Four at 00:41 of the third. Darwitz and Wendell added the assists.
The Maroon and Gold scored two additional times for the four-goal lead. Wendell scored her fourth goal of the Frozen Four at 6:54 with Stephens on the assist. With Wendell's goal, she surpassed former Gopher Nadine Muzerall for most points in a season with 78. Both Wendell and Muzerall established their feats in the Gophers' championship seasons.
Darwitz put on the finishing touches to the championship win adding a hat trick at 12:59 of the third. It was her 27th goal of the season. Ashley Albrecht was credited with the single assist. Although the Gophers had 11 shots on goals to Harvard's 14, Minnesota scored on four of them.
The Golden Gophers' performances within the past two days broke several NCAA records, three of which involved Wendell. She broke the record for points in the Frozen Four (8) and points in a game (4-set March 26 and 28). Wendell and Darwitz each netted hat tricks, only the second and third players to do so in NCAA history. Darwitz and Stephens also set a record for the fastest consecutive goals at 00:32 in the third period. During the Frozen Four, eight skaters earned a point. Wendell had eight, Darwitz had six, followed by Stephens with five.
Horak provided a stellar performance in the net for the Golden Gophers, stopping 31 shots on goal. Horak's 52 saves, .945 percent save percentage and 1.51 goals against earned her all-tournament honors.
"I am very proud of the team," head coach Laura Halldorson said. "The game felt a little similar to the Dartmouth game. We picked it up, maybe a little earlier today but we busted loose and thanks to these two (Wendell and Darwitz) we worked for it and wanted it."
"Our line did not win this championship, our team did," Darwitz said. They are not getting the credit they deserve. Our goalie made some great stops and our second and third lines pushed us and worked hard when they were on the ice."
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association has now won the national championship five consecutive seasons. Minnesota won in 2000, followed by Minnesota-Duluth in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Although the Gophers won the national championship, there is no rest for the Gopher line of Darwitz, Stephens and Wendell. The trio will take off to compete with Team USA at the IIHF World Championships, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The trio will leave directly from Providence and join the rest of their U.S. teammates tomorrow.
Fans are invited to welcome the team back from the national championship at Ridder Arena. The Golden Gophers will arrive in the back of Ridder (5th Street) approximately at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon.
