Frozen Four thriller: Gophers fall to Wisconsin in overtime
A trip to the national championship game wasn't in the cards for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's hockey team as they lost 3-2 in an overtime thriller to the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals Friday night.
The winning goal was scored during an exhausting overtime when K.K. Harvey beat Minnesota's goalie Skylar Vetter up high with 3:13 left in the extra session, sending the Badgers to the national championship game.
BADGERS WIN! BADGERS ARE GOING TO THE NATTY!!!
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 18, 2023
💻 ESPN+ #WFrozenFour x @BadgerWHockey pic.twitter.com/xSbM2i9kHZ
In front of a packed house at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minnesota, the Gophers were leading 1-0 until the Badgers scored twice in a span of 52 seconds midway through the third period.
It remained 2-1 Wisconsin until Minnesota pulled the goalie and Madeline Wethington ripped a left-handed shot from the left point and it deflected off a Badger and found the back of the net for the equalizer.
TIE BALL GAME pic.twitter.com/z1if4jXIbs
— Minnesota Women's Hockey (@GopherWHockey) March 18, 2023
The Gophers scored first when Taylor Heise let a shot rip from close range – her 30th goal of the season.
The first player in the country to 30 goals!@taylorheise9 doing her thing on the big stage! pic.twitter.com/rTM497hOV9
— Minnesota Women's Hockey (@GopherWHockey) March 17, 2023
Ohio State beat Northeastern 3-0 in the other semifinal, so the national title game will be settled between Ohio State and Wisconsin on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT. ESPNU will televise the game live.
Minnesota has gone 3-1-1 against Ohio State this season.
