University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Harvard
Gophers Win Second Straight NCAA Championship
3/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Natalie Darwitz scored the game-winning goal with 1:08 remaining to clinch a 4-3 win over Harvard in the 2005 NCAA national championship game.
The Golden Gophers started the game with two penalties at 4:23 and 6:37 of the first period. Minnesota killed off both penalties but was outshot 9-1 on the penalty kill. Once the Gophers returned to full strength, Minnesota rattled off five shots on Harvard goalie Ali Boe. Minnesota got on board at 17:24 of the first period, taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Wendell batted in a rebound after Darwitz took the initial shot.
The Crimson quickly tied the game 46 seconds into the second period when Jennifer Sifers scored an even strength goal. The Golden Gophers regained the one-goal lead on a power-play goal when Wall ripped a slap shot at 7:58 of the second period. The tally marked her second power-play goal in two games. Darwitz and Kelly Stephens assisted on the play. However, the Crimson once again answered with the game-tying goal, scoring a power-play goal from Sarah Vaillancourt at 10:33. Nicole Corriero and Julie Chu recorded assists on the play. Just over eight minutes later, the Gophers tacked on their second goal of the period to take a 3-2 lead. Ashley Albrecht fired a slap shot for her fourth goal of the season, and Wendell and Darwitz assisted on the play.
The Crimson tied the game for the third time on a power-play opportunity at 13:54 of the third period when Caitlin Cahow scored off assists from Chu and Vailliancourt.
Locked in a 3-3 tie, it looked like the game was destined for overtime. However, at 18:52 of the third period, Darwitz netted the game-winner on a rebound attempt from Stephens. Darwitz finished the game with four points on one goal and three assists. With her nine points in the two games, Darwitz set the NCAA record for most individual points in the NCAA Frozen Four, surpassing her linemate Wendell, who had eight points a year ago.
With her four-point performance in the national championship game, Darwitz surpassed former Harvard player Jennifer Botterill for most points in a single NCAA season with her total of 114 points. She finished the season with 42 goals and 72 assists. Darwitz also set a record for most points by a Minnesota hockey player, man or woman, in a single season. Former Gopher Aaron Broten recorded 106 points in the 1980-81 season for the Minnesota men's hockey team.
The line of Darwitz, Stephens, and Wendell combined for 20 points in the NCAA Frozen Four. Along with Darwitz's 114 points, Wendell finished with six points in the Frozen Four and 104 points on the season. Stephens had five points between the semifinal and national championship games and logged 76 points in her final season. All three set season career highs for points.
Jody Horak earned her 24th win of the season in net for the Maroon & Gold, posting a 24-2-2 record in her final campaign. Horak had nine saves in the first period, 10 in the second, and four in the third for a three-period total of 23.
The Gophers finish the season with an impressive 36-2-2 record and retained the No. 1 ranking in the nation the entire 2004-05 season. The Gophers finished the season with a Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season championship, a WCHA Tournament Championship, and the program's second-straight NCAA championship.
It was the final game in Gopher jerseys for five seniors. Stephens finished her Gopher career ranked fourth in all-time scoring. She finished her Gopher career with 97 goals, 121 assists, and 218 points in 148 games played. Horak posted a career record of 83-14-6. She is the all-time winningest goalie in school history. Meanwhile, Brenda Reinen finished her Gopher career with a record of 36-3-5 in her four-year career. Noelle Sutton competed in 144 games with the Maroon & Gold, posting 53 points, and Stacy Troumbly had three goals and three assists in her tenure at Minnesota.
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