RIVER FALLS, Wis. – Adrian College freshman Nina Laurie (Palatine, Ill.) scored at 12:59 of overtime to send the Bulldogs to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance with a 4-3 win over #1 Wisconsin-River Falls in the NCHA O'Brien Cup Championship. This is the first NCHA title for the women's hockey team as the Bulldogs improve to 19-7-3 on the season. With the win, Adrian clinches a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament and hands UW-River Falls their first loss of the season as they are now 24-1-4.

The Falcons found the net early as Lauren Conrad netted their first goal at 9:20 of the first period. UW-River Falls added to their lead just 2:29 later as Kait Mason netted a goal to put the Falcons up 2-0 after the first period. Adrian outshot the Falcons during the opening period, 13-12.

The second period started off just as the first did with UW-River Falls notching the first goal, again by Mason at 4:37. Down 3-0, the Bulldogs fought back late in the second as senior Nicky Futers (Sarnia, Ont.) netted her fourth of the season, unassisted, on a bouncing shot from the top of the right crease that  got by the Falcons goaltender.

Adrian trailed late in the third period when Olivia Rork (Wayne, Mich.) netted her 11th goal of the season at 16:55 off a rebound from senior Stacey Kempson's (Windsor, Ont.) shot. Down 3-2 with less than two minutes to go in the game, Kempson came through in the clutch for the Bulldogs as she scored her 16th goal of the season with just 1:30 left in the game. Sophomore Ashley Gniewek (Southgate, Mich.) was credited with the assist. Gniewek's pass found a breaking Kempson alone on the right side of the Falcon goal to tie the game.

With the game tied at 3-3 at the end of regulation, the two teams went into a sudden-death overtime period. The Bulldogs outshot the Falcons 7-3 in the final regulation period.

UW-River Falls had the first chance in overtime but freshman goalie Emily Michelin (Highland, Mich.) denied the Falcons one-timer. UW-River Falls had several other chances early in the extra period but Michelin stood tall in net.

At 12:59 of overtime, Laurie broke away and took a Falcons defender one-on-one and beat goalie Cassi Campbell high to the glove side for the game-winner.

After giving up the first three goals, Michelin denied the Falcons multiple opportunities in the extra period making six saves to finish the game with 31. Campbell had 29 saves for UWRF in the loss.

On the afternoon, UW-River Falls had the shot advantage 34-33 over the Bulldogs. Adrian was 0-for-3 on the power play while the Falcons were 0-for-4.

Adrian now awaits word from the NCAA selection committee on where and who they will play for the Division III tournament. The field will be announced at 10:00 a.m. on March 7. The selection show can be seen live on www.ncaa.com.