Maria Rooth scored a power-play goal eight minutes, 49 seconds into overtime and second-ranked Minnesota-Duluth posted a 6-5 win Friday over seventh-ranked Wisconsin to advance to the WCHA Women’s Championship finale.
The Badgers trailed 5-3 with 5:57 to play in the third period after Sanna Peura scored for the Bulldogs. Meghan Hunter scored a power-play goal a little more than a minute later and Sis Paulsen’s power-play tally with 1:23 remaining in the third period tied the score and sent the game into overtime.
Karen Rickard got Wisconsin on the board first at 5:02 of the opening period but Pamela Pachal’s goal in the final four minutes of the opening period knotted the score at 1-1.
Rickard again gave the Badgers a one-goal lead early in the second period with the first of her team’s three power-play goals. Rooth and Kendra Antony then traded even-strength goals as Wisconsin headed into the second intermission with a 2-1 lead.
That lead was short-lived, however, as Erika Holst scored just 1:09 into the third period and Joanne Eustace’s power-play goal at 7:44 gave UMD its first lead of the game.
Minnesota-Duluth had a 41-34 advantage in shots on goal for the game, including a 6-1 margin in the overtime. Tuula Puputti stopped 29 shots for the winners while Badger goalie Jackie MacMillan made 35 saves.
