Rainy River Community College did it again.
The Voyageurs crushed West Chester University 8-1 on Sunday in the ACHA Women’s Division 2 National Championship to capture its third title in four years.
Rainy River lost to West Chester 4-1 in pool play, but avenged that loss with authority in Kalamazoo, Mich.
The team returned early Monday morning before celebrating with a large crowd in the Commons area Tuesday afternoon. Each team member entered the Commons with Queen’s “We Are The Champions” playing in the background.
“Not too shabby,” said freshman Jessie Baker, who was named the tournament MVP.
Sophomore captain Courtney Scholler had a hard time putting the title into words after the Voyageurs pulled away with four third-period goals to extend the lead to 8-0.
“Third period was fun. I think I’m still in shock,” the Falls High School graduate said. “I don’t know how you describe that feeling. It’s just an awesome feeling.”
RRCC lost to Northeastern in the championship last season.
“They’re all special, anytime you get to play for a national title,” Voyageurs head coach Evan Amdahl said after his second title in three years. “Every year has its ups and downs and nuances.”
In the championship, Baker and Katrina Wreggitt scored early to force a stunned West Chester squad to call a timeout to stop the bleeding.
Carla Bosma and Stevie-Lee Langford added goals in the second period and Brenley Anderson tallied a hat trick in the third after Langford added her second goal.
It was 8-0 when West Chester scored on backup goalie Kelsey Fuerst, who Amdahl inserted late in the third to get her playing time in the title game. Katie Stearns picked up the win in net, stopping 15 shots.
Anderson, the nation’s leading scorer, finished with five points, while Baker, Bosma and Langford had two points apiece.
Langford, Anderson and Kyla Thorne made the All-Tournament First Team. West Chester goalie Aly Golia, who willed the Golden Rams to the championship contest, was the first team goalie.
Golia was the main reason for the Voyageurs’ 4-1 loss to West Chester in pool play. The netminder stopped 37 shots as RRCC outshot the Golden Rams 38-18.
“They came out on fire and you play a lot differently when you’re ahead than when you’re behind,” Amdahl said, noting the roles were reversed in the championship game.
The Voyageurs defeated the University of Connecticut 5-2 in their other pool-play contest.
Baker and Langford had two goals apiece, while Anderson scored the fifth goal. Stearns pushed aside 23 shots.
In the semifinals on Saturday night, RRCC edged South Dakota State University 3-2. It was the third time this season the Voyageurs defeated SDSU.
Anderson scored twice, including the game-winner with 1:50 to play. Thorne scored the other Voyageurs’ goal and Stearns made 25 saves.
West Chester defeated the University of Minnesota-Duluth 3-1 in the other semifinal matchup.
“Hardest thing was keeping them focused and not being complacent,” Amdahl said about the regular season, which was filled with lopsided wins.
“It’s hard to be motivated when you’re just that much better than everyone you’re playing.”
So what’s next?
“Continue to dominate Division 2,” Amdahl said, noting a move to Division 1 isn’t possible with travel expenses too high.
Scholler loved ending her hockey career with a title.
“It was a good way to end my hockey career,” she said. “It was bittersweet.”
