The Wisconsin Badgers took home their first title in women’s ice hockey by defeating Minnesota, 3-0, in the National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey Championship title game March 26 in Minneapolis.

The win was the fifth for the Badgers this year in six games against the Golden Gophers. Wisconsin finished the season with a school-best 36-4-1 record. Minnesota ended its campaign 29-11-1.

Sophomore Jinelle Zaugg scored two goals for the Badgers and senior Grace Hutchins added the third. Freshman goaltender Jessie Vetter turned in a performance worthy of the tournament’s most outstanding player honors, allowing just one goal in three games and recording the first shutout in both the national championship game and the Women’s Frozen Four.

Zaugg struck first, launching the puck into the net during a power play at the 9:56 mark of the first period. That was followed just 30 seconds later by a Hutchins tap-in for a 2-0 lead. Zaugg’s second goal also came on a Badger power play with an assist from Patty Kazmaier Award winner Sara Bauer.

Though the Badgers won, they were out-shot by the defending-champion Golden Gophers, 21-9, in the second and third periods. Both teams took 10 shots on goal in the first period.

Goaltender Vetter, also named to the all-tournament team, said once the first period was over, she lost some of her anxiety.

“Not allowing them to score in the first period was huge for me, because then I go into the locker room, and I really get loosened up and have fun and try to have a good game,” she said.

Badgers coach Mark Johnson, a member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey team that won an Olympic gold medal and the 1977 Wisconsin team that won an NCAA championship, said participating as a coach was more nerve-wracking.

“As a player, you get excited to play in these types of games. That is what you work hard for — the chance to play for a national championship,” he said. “Obviously, I have been touched with a lot of nice things throughout my playing career and now I have something from a coaching standpoint, and that is really special.”

Minnesota Coach Laura Halldorson said she was proud of her team that “came a long way” this season and came just short of winning the national championship in front of the home crowd.

“Today we just couldn’t find a way to put the puck in the net,” she said. “The crowd would have gone crazy, but just to get to that championship game was huge for us.”

Joining Vetter on the all-tournament team were teammates Bobbi-Jo Slusar and Zaugg, Minnesota players Ashley Albrecht and Bobbi Ross, and New Hampshire’s Jennifer Hitchcock.

Regionals

New Hampshire 3, Harvard 1; Minnesota 4, Princeton 0; St. Lawrence 1, Minnesota Duluth 0; Wisconsin 2, Mercyhurst 1 (2 ot).

Semifinals

Wisconsin 1, St. Lawrence 0

Wisconsin  0      0      1 — 1

St. Lawrence       0      0      0 — 0

First period: No scoring.

Penalties: W — Bobbi-Jo Slusar (hooking), 2:26; Kristen Witting (checking), 15:33; Team (too many on ice), 17:49.

Second period: No scoring.

Penalties: W — Sara Bauer (cross-checking), 12:07. SL — Kerri Wallace (hooking), 14:48; Laurie Ross (holding), 17:43.

Third period: W — Tia Hanson (unassisted), 05:22.

Penalties: None.

Saves: Jessie Vetter (Wisconsin) 27; Jessica Moffat (St. Lawrence) 24.

Minnesota 5, New Hampshire 4

Minnesota  2      1      2 — 5

New Hampshire   2      1      1 — 4

First period: M — Bobbi Ross (Erica McKenzie), :46; Ross (Andrea Nichols), 9:28. NH — Jennifer Hitchock (Martine Garland, Sadie Wright-Ward), 15:17; Kacey Bellamy (Hitchcock), 17:34.

Penalites: M — Chelsey Brodt (checking), 3:25; Melanie Gagnon (interference), 14:59. NH — Leah Craig (checking), 5:38.

Second period: NH — Nicole Goguen (Hitchcock), 6:15; M — Ross (penalty shot), 10:39.

Penalties: NH — Wright-Ward (interference), 8:48; Craig (delaying the game), 9:56; Bellamy (delaying the game), 10:39; Craig (high sticking), 13:01.

Third period: M — Becky Wacker (Nichols, Ashley Albrecht), 2:27; NH — Nicole Hekle (Amy McLaughlin, Craig), 12:11; M — Ross (Whitney Graft), 18:09.

Penalties: M — Gagnon (tripping), 4:06; Wacker (interference), 7:24; Gigi Marvin (boarding), 10:29.

Saves: Brittony Chartier (Minnesota) 19; Melissa Bourdon (New Hampshire) 20.

Championship game

Wisconsin 3, Minnesota 0

Wisconsin  2      1      0 — 3

Minnesota  0      0      0 — 0

First period: W — Jinelle Zaugg (Cyndy Kenyon, Bobbi-Jo Slusar), 9:56; W — Grace Hutchins (Nikki Burish), 10:26.

Penalties: W — Burish (interference), 5:17; Burish (hooking), 12:26. M — Anya Miller (holding), 9:17; Bobbi Ross (interference), 16:37.

Second period: W — Zaugg (Sara Bauer, Kenyon), 9:08.

Penalties: W — Emily Morris (tripping), 1:04;  Angie Keseley (hooking), 9:13; Meaghan Mickelson (roughing), 16:21. M — Miller (holding), 2:09; Liz Palkie (hooking); 7:23; Andrea Nichols (interference with goal tender), 16:21.

Third period: No scoring.

Penalties: W — Tia Hanson (hooking), 6:53.

Saves: Jessie Vetter (Wisconsin) 31, Brittony Chartier (Minnesota) 16.