University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Lose 3-2 Overtime Heartbreaker to Wisconsin
3/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The No. 4/5 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team lost in heart-breaking fashion to Wisconsin, 3-2 in overtime, tonight, at Ridder Arena. Wisconsin’s Mallory Deluce scored on a scramble in front of the net at 1:29 in the overtime to send the Badgers to the Frozen Four next weekend. The loss ended the Golden Gophers’ season and finished the year with a 27-7-4 overall record, while the Badgers improved to 28-8-3 overall. Wisconsin will play No. 1 seed Harvard on March 20th.
The Badgers took an early lead when Kelly Nash scored off a deflection at 8:19 in the first period. The Badgers had an early shot lead as well, outshooting the Gophers, 5-1 in the first portion of the first period. However, Gigi Marvin scored a power-play goal at 16:56 in the first to tie the game at 1-1 after one. Anya Miller started the play as she attempted a shot. It was blocked, but she got it back and passed it to Bobbi Ross. She found Gigi Marvin in the slot and Marvin used her backhand to place the puck in the top right corner of the goal for her 23rd goal of the season. After the Gophers were outshot after the UW goal, Minnesota fired back and finished the period just one shot behind the Badgers, 8-7.
The Gophers and Badgers skated to early a scoreless second period, but Emily West scored her 11th goal of the season just before the buzzer to take a 2-1 lead in the game. Michelle Maunu found Marvin at the found and she passed the puck to West at center ice. She was met near the blue line by two UW defensemen. West poked the puck through them and pick it up on the other side. As she came to the bottom of the circles she put a shot on net and scored the go ahead goal at 19:59 in the second.
However, Wisconsin scored just 14 seconds into the third period when Hilary Knight netted her 20th goal of the season with Alycia Matthews and Malee Windmeier adding the assists. The two teams then skated the remainder of regulation to send the game into overtime. A back and forth game, Wisconsin had 24 saves through three periods, while Minnesota had 23. Minnesota had a great opportunity with less than a minute remaining in the third, when it caught Wisconsin on a three-on-one attempt, but the Gophers couldn’t find the back of the net.
The Badgers, however, would score just 1:29 into the extra stanza to win the game. Jinelle Zaugg put a shot on goal from her stomach, which was initially stopped by Gopher goalie Jenny Lura, but Deluce poked the puck in for the goal.
The Gophers say goodbye to their five seniors: Whitney Graft, Erica McKenzie, Anya Miller, Jenelle Philipczyk and Bobbi Ross. The Gopher seniors were apart of the 2005 national championship and the 2006 national championship game. Bobbi Ross finished her career ranked eighth in school history in points with 152. Erica McKenzie followed with 141 points in her career. Minnesota's lone senior defenseman Anya Miller finished her career with 57 points in 106 games played, while Graft also had 57 points in her career. Philipczyk finished her career never missing a game. Philipczyk played in 155 games during her career to become the school recordholder in games played.
Quotes:
Minnesota head coach Brad Frost:
“Heartbreaking is a good way to describe this game for us. We played great hockey, both teams competed the best they could. I know it sounds clich, but somebody has to lose, and unfortunately it was us tonight.”
“This was one heck of a season, it was a hard way to lose tonight, but this year was one to be proud of. Last fall, our seniors set the tone, and carried it throughout the season. They are a truly special group of players. I’m so proud of our kids, I couldn’t ask for anything else.”
“Jenny (Lura) gave us a chance to win tonight. She has a bright career and a bright future ahead of her. Freshmen don’t get to play in games like this, she will learn from this and get better because of this. She played great tonight.”
Junior Gigi Marvin
On the team’s feeling after scoring at the end of the second period:
“We were really focused. Our team doesn’t have a lot of ups and downs, we’re really consistent. Our seniors led the way, they are rock solid. You know what you’re getting from them, they are consistent. We were ready and confident.”
On the goal she scored:
“I had the puck on the left side, and all four Badgers crashed to the other side. That goal happened because of what all my teammates were doing on the boards on the other side, they drew all the Wisconsin players away from me.”
Senior Bobbi Ross
On the season:
“Our hearts are broken right now. When we spoke in the locker room after the game ended, we kept saying how much fun this season was. There was never a dull moment, it was an amazing ride. Later, we’ll be able to look back at this game and see what a special thing we were a part of. We went out on one heck of a hockey game, it was such an exciting game, and it feels great to be a part of such a special game.”
Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson
“ We are obviously thrilled and excited at having another opportunity to practice on Monday and to play another game next weekend. I give the players a lot of credit after giving up a goal so late in the second period, but we battled back and scored a goal to start the third period. That goal got people excited and it then became a game of chess; who was going to make a mistake or make a play for somebody. Fortunately for us during the overtime period we capitalized on the opportunity that was presented to us.”
“I want to congratulate Minnesota, especially their seniors. They had wonderful careers and were a real asset to the WCHA. I feel bad for them, but that is a part of sports. Somebody has to go home. All of their seniors have made great contributions not only to their team, but also to the University of Minnesota and to our league, so I would just like to congratulate them.”
On the Wisconsin dominance over Minnesota
“In this sport there are some things that you can’t explain. We just show up each game to play and sometimes it’s a game of bounces, but the team has grown. We had a young hockey club this year. The first couple of months we needed to work with our freshman and they have become a better team since December. We have lost a couple of games since then, but we are finding ways to win. That is the most important thing, especially this time of year.”
Junior forward Jinelle Zaugg
On the play of Wisconsin’s freshman
“They have stepped up so much since the beginning of the season. We really rely on them a lot since they are able to put the puck in the net. That is awesome for them and wonderful for our program.”
On the game winning goal
“I really don’t know what happen. I just threw the puck at the net and from what I remember their goalie hit it in as she was falling back. I saw the ref point his arm at the net, but I don’t really remember much more than that.”
Wisconsin goaltender Jessie Vetter
On the play at the end of the third period
“No definitely not. I saw that it was a three-on-one. It was Erica McKenzie, Bobbi Ross and Gigi Marvin. That’s not the trio that you want coming at you, but we did a good job of making them pass back and of back-checking and getting the puck away from Bobbi.”
