Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Badgers Top Harvard 4-1, Reach NCAA final
March 20, 2008
By John Gilbert
DULUTH, MN. - Tiny Erika Lawler scored an enormous unassisted goal at 18 seconds of the second period, and all it did was change Thursday's first Women's NCAA hockey semifinal completely around, igniting a three-goal rally that led Wisconsin to a 4-1 victory over No. 1 ranked Harvard and into Saturday's championship game.
For the Badgers (29-8-3), who rose from the No. 5 seed to eliminate No. 4 Minnesota in the NCAA quarterfinals last week, the victory over No. 1 Harvard leaves only No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth and No. 3 New Hampshire still in the way of the Badgers third consecutive NCAA title - and they were playing in the second semifinal to determine Wisconsin's foe in the 12:30 p.m. game.
Coach Mark Johnson's words were careful after the first period, when the Badgers trailed Harvard 1-0, and looked sorely in need of some inspiration. Johnson told them simply to relax and enjoy themselves. "I told the team it's fun to participate, but we came here to do more thanparticipate," said Johnson. "My whole mission is to get them to relax and play the way they have all year."
Actions, however, were needed to support the coach's words, and Erika Lawler's mission was to get something going. "The first shift of any period is always big," said Lawler. "You want to get everybody going - back in the game."
When the puck dropped to start the second period, Lawler pounced on a loose puck, swung out from behind the goal line and scored at 0:18 - tying the game and untying the knotted up Badger attack.
"Erika's goal at the start of the second period changed our energy level, and our bench," said Johnson. "It calmed everybody down, and when we got two delayed penalties, we capitalized."
Harvard came into the semifinals with the No. 1 rank and a superb 32-1.
The only loss was 4-1 to New Hampshire, which also was the only time the Crimson had given up more than two goals in a game. Until Thursday.
Harvard led 1-0 when Jenny Brine deflected in a power-play goal at 4:42 of the first period.
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That was the only goal Jessie Vetter allowed, while Lawler's goal not only was the equalizer, it led to another goal at 2:25 by Jasmine Giles, and then another by Jinelle Zaugg at 6:56.
Harvard coach Katey Stone called time out right then, and while the Crimson got settled down, the damage was done.
"My hat's off to Wisconsin," said Stone, whose team's dream season ended 32-2."They're highly battle-tested I'd say, but I thought we were in it until they made it 4-1. We definitely weren't as sharp as we've been. When they scored those three goals, we backed up a little bit, and that's not the kind of team we are."
At 3-1, Harvard was still a threat, but at 3:15 of the third period, Zaugg finished a picture-perfect goal to settle the issue.
Mallory Deluce started it with a rink-wide pass to Meghan Duggan, breaking up the right boards. Duggan carried into the Crimson zone, passing with perfect precision across the slot where Zaugg, coming off the left wing, smacked a one-timer past goaltender Christina Kessler.
"We're excited," said Johnson. "We get to practice tomorrow. And we get another chance to play, in the last game of the year, and another opportunity to play for a championship.