Minnesota's Natalie Darwitz registered a hat trick and fellow Golden Gopher Krissy Wendell added a goal and three assists in a 6-2 victory over Harvard in the final game of the 2004 Women's Frozen Four March 28 in Providence.

Harvard took an early lead on a goal by Kat Sweet at the 12:48 mark of the first period. Minnesota pulled even at 4:51 of the second period when Darwitz buried the first of her three goals for the game. Harvard retook the lead on a power-play score at 12:21, but the Golden Gophers again knotted the contest on a score by Andrea Nichols at 17:49 of the second period.

In the third period, however, Minnesota unleashed four unanswered goals to put the game out of reach.

Just nine seconds into the period, Darwitz rifled a shot past Crimson netminder Ali Boe, then Darwitz's teammate Kelly Stephens buried her third score of the Women's Frozen Four to put Minnesota up, 4-2.

Then Wendell scored and Darwitz added her final goal to finish off the win for the Golden Gophers.

Minnesota head coach Laura Halldorson said she was proud of her team.

"The game felt a little similar to the Dartmouth (semifinal) game. We picked it up, maybe a little earlier today, but we busted loosed and thanks to these two (Wendell and Dartwitz) we worked for it and wanted it," she said.

But, Darwitz emphasized the win was a total team effort.

"Our line did not win this championship. Our team did," she said. "They are not getting the credit they deserve. Our goalie made some great stops and our second and third lines pushed us and worked hard when they were on the ice."

The Gophers shattered a number of records during their tournament run. Wendell established the mark for most points in the Women's Frozen Four with eight, earning four each in the semifinal and championship games. Darwitz's goal at the opening of the third period demolished the record for the fastest goal at the start of a period, set when Minnesota Duluth's Jennifer Botterill scored 21 seconds into the second period of last year's championship contest against Harvard.

Minnesota also bulldozed the record for most goals scored in the championship game with six. The previous record, set by Minnesota Duluth in 2001 and 2003, was four.

In addition, the teams' combined eight goals broke the record for most goals scored by both teams in a Women's Frozen Four championship game. The old mark was established in last year's title game when Minnesota Duluth and Harvard tallied seven goals.

Minnesota, which finished the year at 30-4-2, defeated Dartmouth 5-1 in semifinal action, while Harvard edged St. Lawrence, 2-1. Harvard completed the season with a 30-4-1 record.

Semifinals