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RIVER FALLS, WI – #3 Nazareth (27-1-1) stormed back from down 3-0 to defeat #2 Norwich (26-3-0) in overtime, 5-4, on Saturday behind a goal from junior Meredith Boettcher :29 seconds in to send the Golden Flyers to the NCAA Division III Championship game on Sunday at 4 p.m. EST. Nazareth will play #1 University of Wisconsin - River Falls (29-1) who defeated #3 Amherst (21-2-6) by a 3-1. Tickets are sold out for the championship game.
 
Nazareth, in just its 8^th year as a program, will be playing for its first NCAA Division III Women's Hockey title.
 
The Golden Flyers snapped the Cadets 23-game win streak, dating back to November 19.
 

How it Happened:

• The Cadets came out firing, scoring two goals in just a :16 second span at the 5:35 and 5:51 mark for an early 2-0 lead in the opening period.
• Nazareth took some time to find its rhythm, not getting its first shot on net until just over 8 minutes in.
• Near the 8-minute mark, Nazareth killed off a 5-on-3 for :24 seconds but the Cadets converted later on in their extra-attacker opportunity on a deflection in front to go up 3-0 at 14:41. It was 3-0 after one period.
• The Golden Flyers settled in the second, eventually getting on the board on the power play at the 13:58 mark. Boettcher found freshman Ella Konrad for a wrister from the point. Ave Meteyer also had an assist on the play.
• Six minutes later Nazareth pulled to within 3-2. A strong forecheck caused a turnover. Brooke Judkiewicz located Ella Cedrone in front, who stopped the puck, and fired a backhander 5-hole following the strong stick work. Boettcher got her second assist of the day.
• The Cadets, however, had an answer just 15 seconds later for a 4-2 advantage.
• Early in the third Nazareth was able to pull back within one, 4-3, after Laskowski netted her 26^th of the season. Allie Zack won a battle along the boards and Laskowski fired a shot from deep over the glove-side shoulder of the goalie at the 2:37 mark.
• Off the ensuing faceoff, goaltender Mia Gonsalves had a huge breakaway save to keep the score 4-3. She finished the game with 26 saves.
• Another strong forecheck at the 13:56 mark enabled the Golden Flyers to even the score. Maggie Jacoby kept the puck in and then made her way to the front of the net and was found by Abby Flanagan and Ella Mannila. 
• Gonsalves came up with another huge save with 1:18 to play with the Cadets on the power play, stopping a tough backhander.
• Just :29 seconds into overtime the Golden Flyers got the gamewinner from the Minnesota native. Nazareth had a 2-on-1 opportunity with Laskowksi and Boettcher. Laskowski followed her own shot on the boards and found Boettcher. The junior deked a defender and beat the goaltender in tight with through the 5-hole. 

Game Notes:

• Freshman goalie Mia Gonsalves continues to improve on the Nazareth single season record for wins, moving to 25. The previous record was 19 wins by McKinley Hoff in 2024-25 and 2023-24.
• Laskowksi becomes the first 50-point scorer in Nazareth history after tallying a goal and an assist to push her season totals to 26G, 25A for 51 points.
• Boettcher now has 34 points on the year after a 3-point game.
• The goal was Konrad's fourth of the season and pushed her point total to 21 on 4G, 17A.
• Jacoby's game-tying goal was just the fifth of her career in 59 games.
• The Golden Flyers continue to make their deepest run in program history by advancing to the NCAA Championship game. Prior to this season, the NCAA Quarterfinals was the furthest run.
• Nazareth has tied the program record with 27 wins. The 2021-22 team team finished the season 27-2.

Up Next:

• Nazareth will play in the NCAA Division III Women's Hockey Championship game at 4 p.m EST vs UW-River Falls. 

Watch the Championship Game