Greatest moments of 2008-09 - No. 1: Women's hockey clinches NCAA title
August 01, 2009 | Women's Hockey
The 2008-09 University of Wisconsin athletics season was full of many great memories for Badger fans and athletes. Before the calendar turns to the 2009-10 season, UWBadgers.com re-lives 15 of the top moments from this past season. Today, Wisconsin recognizes the No. 1 moment of the year courtesy of the Wisconsin women 's hockey team.
For the third time in four years the Wisconsin women's hockey team has done it again! Head coach Mark Johnson's top-seeded Badgers secured their third NCAA title in four years with a 5-0 victory over No. 3 seed Mercyhurst in the NCAA championship game at Boston. The Badgers finished the 2008-09 campaign with a 34-2-5 overall record while breaking nearly every offensive school record. They ended on a nine-game winning streak and a 12-game unbeaten streak.
The Badgers third championship season saw 207 goals, 345 assists, 552 points and 67 power play goals, all new school records.
When the final horn sounded, the Badgers converged on goaltender Jessie Vetter as sticks and gloves went flying into the air. The senior goaltender was terrific as she turned away a career high-tying 37 shots to earn her NCAA-record 39th career shutout and 14th this season, also an NCAA record.
Vetter, the Patty Kazmaier Award winner for 2009, was named the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player for the second time (also in 2006). She stopped 65 of a possible 66 shots in the two victories over Minnesota-Duluth and Mercyhurst. She finished her career with a NCAA-record four Frozen Four shutouts, two in semifinal games and two in championship games.
Joining Vetter on the all-tournament team from Wisconsin were Hilary Knight, Erika Lawler, Alycia Matthews and Malee Windmeier.
The Badgers and Lakers played to a scoreless tie after one period, just as the Badgers and Minnesota-Duluth had done in the semifinal game. But, just like before, Wisconsin got things going in the second period.
With goals scored in order from Brooke Ammerman, Meghan Duggan, Angie Keseley, Malee Windmeier and Hilary Knight. It was no surprise Knight had the final goal, putting away her nation-leading and school-record 45th tally of the season to close the scoring.
The Badgers killed off all seven Mercyhurst power-play attempts, while going 1-for-5 on the man-advantage themselves. UW put 32 shots on Pattenden. Mercyhurst finished the season with a 31-6-0 mark.
Re-live the championship with these related links
sportid=138&storyid=17361"> --> Post-game recap
galleryID=343"> --> Frozen Four photo gallery
mid=3329"> --> 2008-09 season highlights
Greatest Moments of 2008-09
2. storyid=18482&sportid=193"> --> Lightweight rowing wins yet again
3. sportid=200&storyid=18468"> --> Vetter caps career with Patty Kaz
4. sportid=200&storyid=18434"> --> Men's cross country wins perfect 10th
5. sportid=139&storyid=18423"> --> Andrew Howe wrestles into NCAA finals
6. sportid=200&storyid=18385"> --> UW pulls off NCAA hoops thriller
7. sportid=116&storyid=18376"> --> UW coaches don Red, White and Blue
8. storyid=18338&sportid=119"> --> McBain shines from the blue line
9. sportid=200&storyid=18298"> --> Badgers' assault on the record book
10. sportid=200&storyid=18281"> --> Jorgensen doubles up at Big Tens
11. sportid=123&storyid=18245"> --> Badger tennis team takes third-straight trip to NCAA
12. sportid=116&storyid=18218"> --> ESPN College GameDay visits the Kohl Center
13. sportid=111&storyid=18185"> --> Badgers keep the Axe
14. sportid=135&storyid=18175"> --> Women's Basketball Upsets Baylor
15. sportid=133&storyid=18140"> --> Volleyball Coach Pete Waite earns 500th career victory
