NATTY CHAMPS! #GWH pic.twitter.com/SpMKoM61Tz
— Minnesota Women's Hockey (@GopherWHockey) March 22, 2015
The Golden Gopher women defeated Harvard 4-1 Sunday at Ridder Arena to win their fifth NCAA national title on the strength of a three-goal third period.
Hannah Brandt, Meghan Lorence and Rachel Bona scored in the final frame, and goalie Amanda Leveille made 19 saves, the Star Tribune reports.
It was Minnesota’s fifth NCAA championship and their third in the past four years.
Congrats @GopherWHockey ! National champs!!! pic.twitter.com/YDLnNjsdzt
— Vineeta Sawkar (@vsawkar) March 22, 2015
The Gophers led 1-0 after a goal by Megan Wolfe late in the first period, and the score stayed that way until the third when Brandt scored to stretch the lead to 2-0.
Harvard scored shortly after that to get to 2-1. But Lorence scored Minnesota’s third goal and Bona added an empty-netter late in the game for the final score.
Oh hey #NattyChamps selfie. #GWH pic.twitter.com/abB8KOyyXE
— Minnesota Golden Gophers (@GopherSports) March 22, 2015
Gophers take this one 4-1. Congrats to Minnesota, a worthy champion, but we've got so much to be proud of. What a year for HH Just the start
— Harvard Women's Hockey (@HarvardWHockey) March 22, 2015
Fans of the women’s hockey team couldn’t watch the game on television; it was only available online on a video stream. And some Twitter users wondered why the NCAA and cable TV providers didn’t make arrangements to air the game.
I know I've said it before..but it needs to be said again. It's an absolute TRAVESTY that this Gopher Women's Hockey game is not on TV.
— Dave Schwartz (@Dave_Schwartz) March 22, 2015
ESPNU airs REG. SEASON NCAA baseball.
BTN airs REG. SEASON NCAA lacrosse.
But @ncaa/@turnersports can't get women's hockey title on TV?
— Keith Leventhal (@KeithLeventhal) March 22, 2015
The Star Tribune notes that the broadcast rights to the Frozen Four are held by Turner Sports, as part of its multibillion dollar contract with the NCAA. And the company has no interest in televising women’s hockey at this point, because it’s considered a regional sport with little appeal nationwide.
…send an e-mail or tweet their way if you're not happy with it. With 200 channels, *every* Final in *every* NCAA D1 sport should make TV.
— Chris Long (@ChrisLongKSTP) March 22, 2015
