Shouts of jubilation echoed up and down State Street and University Avenue after the score went final, as thousands of fans knew their dream had become a reality.
""No words. There are no words. There is no better feeling than this,"" one posted on Facebook. ""Yesssssss!!!! And the trophy's coming home!!"" another wrote.
Cars honked, fans hugged one another and for a moment the entire state of Wisconsin seemed to revel in collective, unabashed joy.
Clearly, people were excited about the Badger women's hockey team winning the regular season WCHA title.
Wisconsin's players entered the road series against Bemidji State knowing that, should they take two points from the Beavers, they would be conference champions for the third time in program history. With that motivation the Badgers steamrolled Bemidji State, claiming the series opener —and the WCHA crown —with a 7-1 victory Friday night.
And although they failed to dominate in the same way in Saturday's finale, overtime heroics from junior forward Hilary Knight propelled Wisconsin to another sweep with a 3-2 win.
The Badgers came out firing against the Beavers Friday, storming out to a 4-0 lead in the first period. Although Bemidji would counter with a goal of their own before the opening frame ended, three more Wisconsin goals in the third period dashed any hope for a Beaver comeback.
Junior forward Brooke Ammerman opened scoring for the Badgers, beating Bemidji goaltender Alana McElhinney just under five minutes in to the game. Senior forward Meghan Duggan and sophomore forward Brianna Decker assisted on Ammerman's goal, extending Duggan's program-record point streak to 25 games and Decker's to 20 games.
Wisconsin scored again four minutes later as Knight tallied the 100th goal of her career.
Sophomore goaltender Becca Ruegsegger got the start Friday as head coach Mark Johnson gave freshman netminder Alex Rigsby the night off. Rigsby was in goal for the Badgers' last five games, including four against WCHA elite teams Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota.
Ruegsegger made 27 saves against the Beavers for her eighth win of the season.
With the victory the Badgers claimed the WCHA regular season title for the first time since 2007.
Wisconsin's win the next day was not nearly as one-sided, however, as a late Bemidji goal sent the game to overtime. Sophomore Beaver defenseman/forward Marlee Wheelhouse's unassisted goal with 2:13 to go in the third period evened the score at two apiece to force the extra period.
Wheelehouse's goal came just a few moments after senior Mallory Deluce gave the Badgers their first lead of the game with 5:10 to go in the third. Wisconsin had trailed for much of the contest after Bemidji captain Erin Cody scored in the first period and the Badgers did not find an equalizer until late in the second.
Wisconsin's last two overtime games had to be decided in a shootout, but there would be no skills competition Saturday. Knight found the back of the net to seal the Badger victory just over two minutes into the extra frame, marking the team's third overtime win this season.
Decker and Duggan were kept off the score sheet Saturday, however, bringing their point streaks to an end.
After the sweep Wisconsin improved to 20-2-2 in the WCHA and 26-2-2 overall. With four more conference games to go, the Badgers will now try to stay focused as they round out the regular season and get set for the playoffs.
Their first test will come back home at the Kohl Center this weekend, when Wisconsin will welcome No. 8 North Dakota Friday and Sunday.
-UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
