Wisconsin Wins 2021 NCAA Women's Hockey National Title

A former Boston College player ruined Northeastern's night—and season.

Daryl Watts banked home a shot off a defender from behind the net just 3:16 into overtime to lift Wisconsin to a 2-1 victory in last night's NCAA Division I women's hockey championship game in Erie, Pa. It was the sixth national title for the WCHA champion Badgers, who also claimed the NCAA crown in 2019 before COVID wiped out last year’s tournament. It was the first-ever championship game appearance for Hockey East champion Northeastern, and the first loss for the Huskies since January.

Following two scoreless periods of play, Makenna Webster converted a rebound with nine minutes remaining in regulation to put the Badgers ahead. The Huskies responded just 39 seconds later on a one-timer from the left circle by Chloé Aurard to knot matters, setting the stage for Watts' extra-session heroics.

Mercyhurst transfer Kennedy Blair stopped 24 shots for Wisconsin, while Aerin Frankel made 35 saves for Northeastern. The Badgers outshot the Huskies, 37-25, on the night, and also snuffed out all four Northeastern power plays.

Watts, who spent her first two seasons at Boston College before transferring to Wisconsin, now has 21 points in 11 career games against Northeastern. In her two years at BC, she tallied 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points in nine meetings with the Huskies, and also won the Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation's top player in 2017-18 following her 42-goal, 82-point freshman campaign with the Eagles. She now has 108-132—240 points in 134 career NCAA outings over four seasons.