University of Minnesota Athletics
WHK: Gophers Earn Second WCHA Championship in Two Years
3/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The University of Minnesota women's hockey team earned a 3-2 overtime victory to win its second Western Collegiate Hockey Association Championship in two seasons. The Golden Gophers scored a goal in the second, a goal in the third and an overtime goal to win the game. With the win, the Gophers improve their record to 33-2-2 on the season. Natalie Darwitz was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, while Jody Horak, Lyndsay Wall and Krissy Wendell earned all- tournament team honors.
Minnesota and Wisconsin skated through the first period without scoring a goal. The Gophers had just three shots in the first, the lowest amount this season in a single period. Wisconsin had one power- play opportunity and fired off two of its nine shots with the extra attacker, but could not convert.
Darwitz opened the game's scoring by tallying her 100th point of the season. Darwitz scored her ninth power-play goal at 19:55 of the second period. Wall started the play, passing the puck to Krissy Wendell. She found Darwitz camped out at back door, who fired in a shot. The Gophers took the one-goal lead into the second intermission. The Gophers added eight shots in the second stanza, while UW added another nine to their total for 18 after 40:00 of play.
Minnesota added to its lead, scoring an insurance goal at 5:26 of the second period, again on the power play. Bobbi Ross scored on a rebound attempt with Wall and Darwitz setting up the goal. Darwitz started the play, passing it to Wall. She wound up for the slap shot. The first shot was saved by UW goalie Meghan Horras, but Ross was there for the rebound, scoring her ninth power-play goal of the season and 13th goal overall. For the first time in the game, the Gophers outshot the Badgers, 13-5. Minnesota scored a goal in five power-play shots.
The score remained at 2-0 until 1:12 remaining in the game. Wisconsin took a time out at 18:48 of the third period. Coming out of the time out, Wisconsin pulled Horras to add the extra attacker. With Horras out of the game, it took just :22 for UW to cut the deficit to one goal. UW's Carla MacLeod scored on a slapshot at 19:10 of the third. The Badgers put Horras back in net for :12, then pulled her. Horras was out a total of :14 when the Badgers tied the game at 19:36 of the third. MacLeod again scored on a slapshot, sending the game into overtime.
Following the second Wisconsin goal, UW's Bobbi-Jo Slusar was called for interference at 19:46. The Badgers added another penalty at 20:00 when Nikki Burish was called for high-sticking, creating a 5-on-3 attempt going into overtime. With just :19 elapsed of overtime, Wendell scored a power-play goal. Darwitz started the play, passing it to Kelly Stephens. Stephens found Wendell at the back door and shot a cross-ice pass to Wendell. She fired the puck under the arm of Horras for the overtime game-winner.
Horak earned her 21st win of the season, now sitting at 21-2-2 in her senior season. Horak kept the Gophers in the game, stopping nine shots in the first, nine in the second and three in the third. She held the Badgers scoreless for 58:48 until the Badgers added the extra attackers.
With the win, the Gophers surpassed the most victories in a single season with 33. The Maroon and Gold surpassed the 1999-2000 season total of 32. The Gophers went 32-6-1 in the AWCHA Championship season.
Darwitz scored five goals and added four assists for nine points in the tournament. Wendell had eight points, while Stephens had seven. Of Darwitz's nine points, four came on power-play attempts.
With the win, the Gophers earn an automatic spot in the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals. The Gophers will await to hear who they will play. The NCAA announcement will be held on March 13. Four quarterfinal sites will also be designated at that t
