Minnesota Wins 2004 WCHA Final Five Championship
March 14, 2004
Minnesota (28-4-2/19-3-2) captured the 2004 WCHA Final Five Championship with their first ever win over Minnesota Duluth (20-12-2/15-8-1) in the WCHA Final Five Championship game with a 4-2 victory Sunday at Ridder Arena. The win also marks the second time that the Gophers have won the regular season title and tournament championship in the same year.
Minnesota Duluth lit the lamp first as Krista McArthur scored an unassisted goal at 9:08. Minnesota answered with Krissy Wendell?s goal at 15:58, sending the game into the first intermission with a 1-1 score. Natalie Darwitz added the assist on Wendell?s tally. Minnesota's Kelsey Bills gave the Gophers the lead as she converted a pass from Chelsey Brodt at 5:09 of the second period. Kelly Stephens put the Gophers up 3-1 with her power play goal at 12:49. Ashley Albrecht and Wendell added assists. Stephens then recorded her second goal of the game, which proved to be the game-winner, at 17:16 on a pass from Wendell.
Minnesota Duluth's Julianne Jubinville added a goal at 16:41. Jenny Potter added the lone assist.
The Bulldogs outshot the Gophers 45-26 on the game, including holding a 20-10 shot advantage despite going scoreless in the second period. Jody Horak made 43 saves while Minnesota Duluth's Riita Schaublin had 22 saves.
Minnesota's Krissy Wendell was named the 2004 WCHA Final Five Most Valuable Player. The 2004 WCHA Final Five All-Tournament team included Minnesota's Natalie Darwitz, Kelly Stephens and Jody Horak, Minnesota Duluth's Jenny Potter and Krista McArthur and Wisconsin's Molly Engstrom.
2004 WCHA Final Five All-Tournament Team
F - Natalie Darwitz, Minnesota
F - Jenny Potter, Minnesota Duluth
F - Kelly Stephens, Minnesota
D - Krista McArthur, Minnesota Duluth
D - Molly Engstrom, Wisconsin
G - Jody Horak, Minnesota
MVP - Krissy Wendell, Minnesota
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