ERIE, Pa. – The Wisconsin women's hockey team has accomplished a lot in the 2010-'11 season. The Badgers have won 36 games, earned the WCHA regular season and playoff titles and, most recently, saw their captain named the sport's top player.
Depending on the outcome of Sunday's matchup with Boston University in the NCAA national championship game, however, those accomplishments could mean very little.
If Wisconsin achieves what has been its goal since the start of the season and wins the program's fourth national championship it will be the culmination of the season's triumphs; the ultimate ending to a dream year. But if they leave Tullio Arena as runners up, the Badgers' accomplishments will be little consolation.
Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson said he appreciates that pressure, but does not plan to change his team's preparation ahead of its biggest game.
""When the expectations are high, obviously we understand that, but it doesn't change what we do,"" Johnson said. ""There are no givens that you're going to be back here, and so we cherish the moment.
""You hope you play the best game of the year.""
A national title would cap off a year in which the Badgers have enjoyed almost uninterrupted rule in the college hockey's world.
But while much of Wisconsin's season was marked by dominance – the team has not lost since November – its past few games have tended more toward the dramatic.
In their most recent contest, the Badgers advanced to Sunday's final only after blowing a two-goal lead in the semifinal against Boston College. A goal from sophomore forward Brianna Decker with less than a minute left in the third period proved to be the game winner, bringing the team one step closer to the title.
Despite the close games as of late, senior forward and 2011 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner Meghan Duggan said the season has been especially successful.
""Being a part of this team this year is different than any other team I've been a part of,"" Duggan said. ""Tomorrow we're all just playing for each other and playing for that trophy.""
Standing between the Badgers and their goal are the Boston University Terriers, a young program making its first appearance in the Frozen Four.
As Wisconsin racked up national titles and took its place in the sport's upper echelon over the past few years, the six-year-old BU program was trying to get off the ground. Now, the Terriers have a chance to become the first team outside of the WCHA to win the NCAA title.
Boston earned its spot in Sunday's game with a win over heavily favored Cornell 4-1 Friday thanks to a BU defense that allowed just two shots on goal in the game's second period.
Terrier head coach Brian Durocher seemed to indicate his team may not be able to keep up if the game turns into a shootout – he joked that his plan to stifle Wisconsin's offense was ""Church twice between now and then."" But Durocher said if his team can keep up the defensive strength that was on display in the semifinal it will be in a better position to upset the top-seeded Badgers.
""I believe we have six defenseman that can play top players one-on-one,"" he said. ""We like to think we've got a chance to keep it close and try to win a 2-1, 3-2 hockey game.""
Wisconsin will face off against Boston University with the national title on the line Sunday at 1 p.m. Central.
