FROZEN FOUR - CHAMPIONSHIP

WISCONSIN BADGERS vs UMD BULLDOGS

Much like the UMD semifinal, I'll be providing live updates a few times each period, as well as during intermissions. Before we get started, here are today's lines for each team.

Wisconsin
Angie Keseley - Erika Lawler - Hilary Knight
Jinelle Zaugg - Mallory Deluce - Meghan Duggan
Kelly Nash - Jasmine Giles - Kyla Sanders
Tia Hanson - Emily Kranz - Kayla Hagen

Alycia Matthews - Malee Windmeier
Olivia Jakiel - Rachel Bible
Anne Dronen - Emily Morris

Jessie Vetter - Alannah McCready

UMD
Laura Fridfinnson - Haley Irwin - Emmanuelle Blais
Karine Demeule - Elin Holmlov - Sara O'Toole
Saara Tuominen - Tawni Mattila - Erin Olson
Libby Guzzo - Jessica Hawkins

Jocelyne Larocque - Myriam Trepanier
Heidi Pelttari - Jaime Rasmussen
Tara Gray - Sarah Murray

Kim Martin - Johanna Ellison - Amie Meyer

Pregame
In the interest of full disclosure, the following players have already been etched in stone on my all-tournament team ballot:

F Laura Fridfinnson, UMD; F Jinnelle Zaugg, Wisconsin; D Heidi Pelttari, UMD; G Kim Martin, UMD

One forward spot is open, and one defensive spot is open. My MOP (Most Outstanding Player) choice is still TBA, but I'm reminded on the ballot that my MOP vote has to be for a player on my all-tournament team.

I'm just glad they told me that.

12:00 left, first period
So far, Wisconsin has had two power plays, UMD one. Neither was able to come up with a goal. Shots are even, with UMD getting the first four and Wisconsin getting the last four.

Both teams are very strong defensively early in this game. 0-0 eight minutes in.

6:21 left, first period
Neither team has had a really glorious chance yet. There have been some flubs offensively, but both teams are staying strong in their own zone.

Shots are now 9-5 in favor of Wisconsin. Still a 0-0 game.

End of first period
UMD struck late in the first. On a delayed Wisconsin penalty, Larocque threw it in front of the Wisconsin net, and somehow Irwin was able to jam it past Vetter. 1-0 UMD after one, despite the fact that UW finished the period on an 11-2 shots on goal run.

We'll start the second period five-on-five. Crowd is probably in the 4,400 range here at the DECC, and it's a loud and energetic crowd (official paid attendance: 4,031).

12:00 left, 2nd period
So far, it's a slight edge to Wisconsin in the second period. They didn't really have any great chances on Martin, but zone play was to Wisconsin's edge.

However, a Meghan Duggan hooking penalty put UMD on the power play at the 6:16 mark. If anything, that seems to have swayed things back in UW's favor, as the Bulldogs have had a devil of a time getting anything going offensively.

Penalty is over, and we're still in a one-goal game. 1-0, UMD.

5:00 left, 2nd period
UMD took advantage of a Wisconsin penalty this time. Sanders went off for slashing, and the Bulldogs were superb on the power play. Point shots and plenty of traffic in front of Vetter finally paid off at 11:48 of the 2nd, when a Rasmussen shot was stopped, but a loose puck came to Blais at the side of the net. Blais put it in, basically into an open net. The power play goal makes it 2-0 UMD. As I am typing, UMD is finishing off a penalty kill of their own.

End of 2nd period
Wow. This game's been turned on its ear. UMD's Holmlov went off for interference at 17:25. At 18:24, it was UMD that scored on the UW power play. O'Toole worked her tail off at the Wisconsin line, giving herself a breakaway chance. O'Toole shot top shelf past Vetter for the shorthanded tally, and UMD has a 3-0 lead through two periods.

We start the third period four-on-four, with UMD getting a brief power play after an O'Toole penalty ends.

This one's not over yet. Wisconsin rallied from 3-0 down to eventually force overtime in the WCHA championship game at the DECC a couple weeks ago. However, the hill they have to climb in this one just became much more steep.

My final all-tournament ballot is as follows:

Forwards: Laura Fridfinnson, UMD; Sara O'Toole, UMD; Jinelle Zaugg, Wisconsin
Defense: Heidi Pelttari, UMD; Martine Garland, New Hampshire
Goalie: Kim Martin, UMD
Most Outstanding Player: Kim Martin, G, UMD

10:00 left, 3rd period
The clock isn't moving fast enough.

Still 3-0 UMD. The penalty kill and Martin have been phenomenal.

2:45 left, 3rd period
Say good night. Demeule into the yawning net at 17:15. 4-0, UMD.

End
UMD wins 4-0. Fourth national title for UMD, their first since 2003. Hats off. What a great performance.

Wisconsin 0-0-0--0
UMD 1-2-1--4

1st period
UMD Irwin 23 (Larocque, O'Toole), 19:22 (EAG)

2nd period
UMD Blais 17 (Fridfinnson, Rasmussen), 11:48 (PPG)
UMD O'Toole 9, 18:24 (SHG)

3rd period
UMD Demeule 16 (Mattila), 17:15 (ENG)

Shots on goal
Wisconsin 11-10-7--28
UMD 6-12-6--24

Penalties
Wisconsin 7-14
UMD 11-22

Power plays
Wisconsin 0-10
UMD 1-6

Faceoffs
Wisconsin 10-17-13--40
UMD 10-8-11--29