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SEASON COMES TO AN END AS WISCONSIN

OUTLASTS SAINTS IN NCAA SEMIFINALS

Mar. 24: The No. 3 St. Lawrence University women's hockey team met the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers for only the third time in the team's history on Friday afternoon at the NCAA Frozen Four. In a classic battle of two premier programs, the game came down to the wire, with a late goal from a Wisconsin rookie deciding the game, 1-0, and ending the Saints' dream season and chances at the 2005-2006 National Championship.

The opening period at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, MN was an action-packed affair, with both teams getting plenty of quality scoring chances. However, both goaltenders, senior Jessica Moffat for St. Lawrence and Jessie Vetter for Wisconsin kept the score knotted at zero a piece with some outstanding saves.

The opening face off went to the Badgers, and they immediately took control of the tempo, creating two fast-break opportunities on Moffat. The Moose Creek, Ontario native, a top ten 2006 Patty Kazmaier Finalist, kept Wisconsin off the board in the early going.

The Saints' best chances in the first came on the power play, as they had three opportunities to score with a player advantage. Vetter's toughest save came on a long slap shot off the stick of sophomore Annie Guay, whose shot hit the freshman's pads for a clutch save. St. Lawrence entered the Frozen Four ranked second in the country on the power play, while Wisconsin ranked 10th on the penalty kill. However, through one period, it was the Badger's special teams that held strong and sent the game to the first intermission scoreless.

The second period turned out to be a highlight reel for both goaltenders, as each made some extraordinary saves to keep the offenses off the scoreboard. Wisconsin's 2006 Patty Kazmaier Finalist Sara Bauer made her presence felt in the second, with some high-energy shifts that led to some great scoring chances for the Badgers. She took a pass behind the net early in the second and made her way in front of Moffat. The junior was able to release two shots off her backhand, but the Saints' netminder held firm, making both saves. Then, after a St. Lawrence giveaway behind the net, Bauer again freed herself in front for two more chances. Moffat, however, was up to the task, turning each scoring opportunity away with confidence.

The Saints' first great scoring opportunity of the period came approximately six minutes into the second period, when junior Crystal Connors blasted a slap shot at Vetter from the slot. The shot hit Vetter's chest, and bounced straight up in the air. The puck actually came down behind the Cottage Grove, Wisconsin native, but she dove behind her with her glove to make an amazing stop on the goal line. Although the play was sent to the instant replay booth, the call was correct and the score remained 0-0. A mere thirty seconds later, Moffat returned the favor, flashing her glove to stop Jinelle Zaugg on a two-on-one in the Saints' end.

Although the Saints were called for two penalties in the second period, both Kerri Wallace's hooking penalty and Laurie Ross' holding penalty were warrented. Wallace took the hooking call while trying to stop Zaugg from scoring on a break-away, and Ross held Wisconsin's Cyndy Kenyon at 17:43 to avoid an open net goal as Moffat had fallen out of position when the puck took a strange bounce. The Saints' second ranked penalty kill unit looked sharp, however, allowing the Badgers only one shot on the power play chances.

As the final seconds of the second period ticked down, senior Emilie Berlinguette fed a pass to Connors who moved in one-on-one on Vetter. Connors tried to wrist a shot over the Wisconsin goalie's glove, but Vetter flashed some leather, making the stop as the buzzer sounded to end the second period.

The opening two periods set the stage for the biggest period of the season for both teams, with the winner of the final frame earning a bid into the NCAA Championship game on Sunday. The third period opened with both teams working hard to control the tempo. Both goalies remained perfect through the first five minutes of play, but finally, the Wisconsin Badgers broke the ice and scored the opening goal 5:22 into the third period.

The Saints' attempt to carry the puck out of their defensive zone was stopped by the Badgers at the blue line. With a pile of players digging for the puck along the boards, it was Wisconsin's Tia Hanson that would come away with control, looping around the circle to Moffat's right. The Saints were unable to catch the freshman from Medicine Hat, Alberta, as she fired a quick wrist shot that beat Moffat's glove. The goal broke Moffat's shutout streak, which had reached 138:22 dating back to the ECACHL Quarterfinal series with Yale on March 4th.

The Saints gave everything they had in the final minutes, but every attempt they had was stopped by a suffocating Wisconsin defense. Head coach Paul Flanagan pulled Moffat with just under a minute to play in the game, and the Saints had one last chance as the clock ticked towards zero. However, as Berlinguette carried the puck over the blue line, her shot with two seconds left was blocked by a Badger defensemen, and the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers celebrated their NCAA Semifinal 1-0 victory.

The shots in Friday's game were almost even, with St. Lawrence holding a small edge, 27-25. Neither team was able to convert on the power play, as the Saints finished 0-4 on the afternoon. Between the pipes, Vetter earned the victory with 27 saves, with Moffat stopped 24 of the Badger's 25 chances.

The loss marks the third consecutive season that the Saints have fallen in the NCAA Semifinal round. The Class of 2006, which includes senior co-captains Tracy Muzerall, Kate Michael, and Kat Smithson along with Berlinguette, Ross, and Moffat finish their careers as the most winningest group of players to ever skate for the Scarlet and the Brown.

Paul Flanagan's team set a new record for wins in a season with 31, and had two players named All Americans by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Sabrina Harbec, a 2006 Patty Kazmaier finalist, was named a first team All American forward, while sophomore defenseman Annie Guay was named a Second-Team All American at the blueline. Flanagan was also named a top six finalist for the Division I NCAA Coach of the Year Award on Friday afternoon. He was the winner of the award in 2001.