University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
22-7-5, 18-6-4WCHA
Wisconsin
18-13-3, 15-12-1WCH
Gophers Are WCHA Champions Once Again
2/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Chelsey Jones and Kelly Seeler helped the No. 2 University of Minnesota women's hockey team to a from-behind win over the No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers, this afternoon, 3-2, at Ridder Arena. With the win, the Golden Gophers (22-7-5, 18-6-4 in the WCHA) earned the title of Co-WCHA regular season champions, an honor they share with Minnesota Duluth.
The title marks the second-straight regular season title for the Gophers and the program's sixth regular season championship since the start of the WCHA in 1999-2000. The Bulldogs won the tie-breaker with more conference wins with a 20-6-2 mark. The seeds were based off the second tie-breaker after the first was head-to-head competition in which both teams swept at their home site.
Wisconsin jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Jasmine Giles scored just 1:24 into the contest. Minnesota responded when Anne Schleper scored a power-play goal from the point at 12:15 in the first with the assists from Emily West and Brittany Francis. Wisconsin, however, regained the lead when Mallory Deluce scored her 13th goal of the season at 16:06 in the first to put the game at 2-1 heading into the second period.
Wisconsin held their lead throughout the second period as both teams went scoreless. The Gophers had 15 shots in the second, while Wisconsin rattled off 12 of their own. With the game coming close to an end, Wisconsin's Kelly Nash was called for checking to give the Gophers a power-play opportunity. Kelly Seeler took advantage of a rebound attempt as she scored on her backhand after Sam Downey put the initial shot on goal. Alexandra Zebro held the second assist.
The goal brought new life to the Gophers as they kept peppering Wisconsin goalie Alannah McCready. Their work paid off when Chelsey Jones finished on a great two-on-one attempt with Becky Kortum. Laura May started the play and passed the puck to Kortum as she brought the play into the zone. Jones came streaking in to create the two-on-one. With great patience, Kortum waited until just the right time to pass Jones the puck. She placed the puck over McCready's right pad to score the game-winning goal at 18:20 in the third period.
Wisconsin held a final attempt when it called a timeout and pulled McCready with 1:04 remaining. However, the Gophers held the Badgers scoreless and attempted several empty-net shots to solidify the win and the WCHA title.
Alyssa Grogan was stellar in net for the Gophers as she collected her eighth win of the season. She had 21 saves for the Maroon and Gold and is now 8-3-1 on the season.
In a best-two-of three series, the Gophers will play Minnesota State in the first round of the WCHA playoffs and will play at 7 p.m. on Friday night, 4 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday if necessary.
