ncaa championship game
3 P.M. VS. HARVARD • RIDDER ARENA • NO TV (Streamed on NCAA.COM), 105.1-FM
Minnesota (33-3-4): Coach Brad Frost said he's not sure the Gophers would have survived Friday's 3-1 semifinal victory over Wisconsin without junior goaltender Amanda Leveille, who made 34 saves. Minnesota trailed 1-0 before Hannah Brandt, Maryanne Menefee and Kelly Pannek reeled off second-period goals. Brandt has two goals and four assists through two games in this NCAA tournament, and Menefee has five points (two goals, three assists). The Gophers are 4-2 in NCAA championship games with wins in 2004, 2005, 2012 and 2013 and losses in 2006 and 2014.
Harvard (27-5-3): The Crimson reached the NCAA title game three straight times, from 2003-05, but lost the first one to Minnesota Duluth and the last two to the Gophers. This is Harvard's first Frozen Four since 2008. Coach Katey Stone guided Team USA to the silver medal at last year's Olympics. That team included three current Harvard players – defensemen Josephine Pucci and Michele Picard and forward Lynsey Fry. Edina native Hillary Crowe has 10 goals this season, and Samantha Reber, formerly of Blake, leads the team with 25 assists.
JOE CHRISTENSEN
