The Badgers dropped a 3-2 decision to No. 1 Minnesota in the championship game of the WCHA Women’s Final Five, held at Fogerty Arena on Saturday. The Badgers fell behind 3-0 before closing to within one, but failed to notch the game-tying goal as Wisconsin claimed second place.

Wisconsin had an early chance, as it played on the power play for three and a half minutes, beginning at 8:05 of the first period. The Badgers skated for 30 seconds up two players but failed to score.

Minnesota capitalized on its first power-play attempt with a goal at 13:01 of the first period. Melissa Coulombe fired from the right face-off dot after taking in a Badger clearing attempt at the point. Coulombe skated to the right circle and beat Jackie MacMillan to the short side.

Ronda Curtin made it 2-0 for Minnesota after picking up the puck behind her own net. The WCHA Player of the Year skated the length of the ice along the right boards, curled towards the Badger net along the goal line and slipped the puck past MacMillan.

Kelly Stephens gave the Gophers a three-goal lead midway through the second, taking advantage of a UW turnover. La Toya Clarke picked up the puck off a Badger stick 10 feet inside the blue line and fed her teammate. Stephens fired from the left hash and scored at the 9:31 mark.

From then on, the Badgers controlled play and out-shot Minnesota 17-9 during the second stanza. All-tournament defender Kerry Weiland reached the scoreboard at 17:11, just 20 seconds into a UW power-play. Kendra forced the puck out of the corner to Meghan Hunter along the right boards. Hunter passed to Weiland at the point, whose slap shot found Minnesota goaltender Brenda Reinen’s five-hole.

“Our girls did not quit, assistant coach Dan Koch said. “We played well enough to win, but the score did not show that. We played with a lot of tenacity the entire game.”

Wisconsin continued its domination in the third period, out-shooting the Gophers, 14-4. At the 7:30 mark, Minnesota defender Cecilia Retelle covered the puck in her own crease, was whistled for a delay of game penalty, and Wisconsin was awarded the first penalty shot in tourney history.

Sis Paulsen took the shot and looked like she had Reinen beat for the score, but the goaltender dove across to her left and trapped the puck on the goal line between her glove and the post.

The pressure resumed and the Badgers drew to within one at 16:36. Friesen fed Hunter, who skated down the right side of the ice.

The sophomore centered through the slot to a streaking Weiland, who poked the puck home for her eighth of the season.

The Badgers pulled MacMillan with 1:08 left in the third, then went on a power play for the final minute of the contest, but failed to get the puck past Reinen.

Wisconsin out-shot Minnesota in each period, and 40-20 for the game, but finished on the losing end.

MacMillan made 17 saves but fell to 22-10-1 on the year. Reinen made 38 saves and raised her record to 12-1-3.

“Minnesota is a frustrating team to play,” Koch added. “They capitalized on their opportunities and Brenda has been strong all year against us. She is not flashy, but she has good positioning and they clear the rebounds.”

Two Badgers, Weiland and frosh defender Carla MacLeod were selected to the all-tournament team.

The Badgers finish their season 22-11-2, with second-place finishes in both the WCHA regular season and at the WCHA Women’s Final Five.

“We are just so proud of our team,” assistant coach Tracey Cornell said.