University of Minnesota Athletics
Bulldogs Take National Title in Triple Overtime
3/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Jessica Wong scored with 33.6 seconds left in triple overtime as Minnesota Duluth defeated Cornell 3-2 for its fifth NCAA women's hockey championship in the longest game in Frozen Four history on Sunday at Ridder Arena.
Wong tipped in a shot by Tara Gray to end the four-and-a-half hour marathon game that lasted 119 minutes, 26 seconds of game time. Minnesota Duluth also won titles in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2008 as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association continued its dominance of the NCAA tournament, having now won all 10 women's championships.
On the game-winning play, Mariia Posa had the puck along the left boards and passed to Gray for a hard shot from the point. Wong was parked in front of the net and tipped the shot for the game-winner. It was the second-longest game in NCAA women's tournament history and came on Minnesota Duluth's 64th shot on goal, which was also a championship game record. The goal came six seconds after the Bulldogs had the only power play chance of the second and third overtimes expire. The Bulldogs outshot Cornell 64-51 for the game.
Cornell goaltender Amanda Mazzotta made a title-game record 61 saves, including several sensational stops. She had 35 saves in the three overtime periods as Minnesota Duluth outshot the Big Red 36-21 in the overtimes.
Cornell's Melanie Jue scored both of the Big Red's goals and had the only goal by either team in the first two periods. Her first score came at 13:44 of the second period on a power play when she tipped in a shot from the point by Lauriane Rougeau.
Minnesota Duluth tied the game just 18 seconds into the third period on a strong individual effort by tournament Most Outstanding Player Emmanuelle Blais. After Cornell won the opening faceoff of the period, Jaime Rasmussen retrieved the puck behind the net and passed ahead to Saara Tuominen along the left boards. Tuominen passed ahead to Blais at the red line and she took the puck into the zone. Her initial shot was blocked by Rougeau near the faceoff dot and she scored off the rebound.
Rasmussen put the Bulldogs ahead at 14:43 of the third period off a pass from Audrey Cournoyer on the power play. However, Cornell answered with a goal from Jue at the 16:30 mark. A shot by Laura Fortino hit the right post and Jue put in the rebound with a backhanded shot.
Minnesota Duluth nearly won the game with a minute left in regulation on a scramble in front of the net that saw the puck sail across the crease inches from the goal line. Wong, who scored the game-winner, had perhaps the best chances of any player during the overtime periods. She twice broke behind the defense following Cornell turnovers for point-blank shots, but Mazzotta made saves each time. Wong also had a shot go off the crossbar in triple overtime and finished the game with 10 shots on goal.
Bulldogs' goaltender Jennifer Harss also had numerous outstanding saves throughout the contest and finished with 49 saves.
Blais was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Wong and Laura Fridfinnson. Cornell defensemen Rougeau and Fortino were also selected along with Mazzotta at goaltender.
