Minnesota Falls 6-1 to Harvard in First NCAA Semifinal
March 21, 2003
DULUTH, Minn. - WCHA Rookie of the Year Natalie Darwitz scored the lone goal for Minnesota as the Gophers were knocked out of the 2003 NCAA Women's Frozen Four, 6-1 by Harvard, at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, Friday.
The teams skated even through most of the first period, though the Crimson held a 13-7 shot advantage when the horn sounded. Harvard would get the important first goal, however, when when Julie Chu slipped home her 41st goal of the season at 18:49. On a three-on-two, Jennifer Botterill fired a wrist shot that Minnesota goaltender Jody Horak stopped, but Chu fought through her check for the rebound and found room past Horak.
Just 23 seconds later, at 19:12, Lauren McAuliffe ripped a wrist shot high on the short side of Jody Horak for a 2-0 lead. McAuliffe forced a Gopher turnover at the Minnesota blue line and hit the short upper corner on a two-on-one.
"I though we started off strong," said Minnesota head coach Laura Halldorson. "I thought we had a good first period. It's too bad we couldn't bury one early because I think it maybe would have turned out differently. Those two goals that Harvard scored at the end of the first period made a big difference in the momentum of the game. It was hard catching up after that."
Chu scored her second of the game at 13:25 of the second period to make it a 3-0 contest. Jamie Hagerman's point shot sailed wide, but the puck caromed off the back boards to Chu who waited at the opposite side of the net. The rookie's shot found room past Horak, who appeared to lean off the post.
Minnesota looked like it was gaining momentum and put pressure on the Crimson for the last five minutes of the period, but at 19:16, Harvard struck again. Chu and Angela Ruggiero went in two-on-one with Ruggiero holding onto the puck beyond the goal line. The defender made a centering attempt, but the puck banked off Horak's pad and in for a 4-0 lead.
The Gophers finally cracked the Harvard defense and Jessica Ruddock at 11:45 of the third period. First-team All-American Natalie Darwitz scored her 32nd of the season when she got the puck past Ruddock before knocking the goaltender down and the net off. The goal was initially waved off, but was allowed after video review.
Minnesota pulled its goaltender with 3:25 left in the game, but did so while Harvard began a rush out of its own end. Ruggiero capitalized and hit the empty net from the Gopher blue line for a 5-1 lead.
A two-on-none for Harvard at 18:08 with Chu and Tracy Catlin closed out the scoring as Catlin one-timed Chu's pass over the top of Horak to increase the lead to 6-1.
Horak finished with 26 saves in falling to 23-6-0. Ruddock stopped 17 of 18 shots to improve to 26-2-1.
Minnesota will play again on Sunday in the third-place game at 12:30 p.m. The Gophers will face the loser of the 7 p.m. contest, either Minnesota-Duluth or Dartmouth. Harvard goes onto the title contest on Sunday at 4 p.m. against the winner of the Bulldog-Big Green game.
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