Gophers coach Brad Frost called it one of the flukiest goals he has ever seen. It’s also one this group of Gophers might not ever forget.

The Gophers were nine seconds away from a regulation victory in the WCHA Final Faceoff semifinals on Friday at Ridder Arena when Wisconsin’s Casey O’Brien scored off a scramble in front of the Gophers’ net to send the game into overtime.

The Badgers then skated away with a 4-3 victory when Lacey Eden beat Gophers goaltender Skylar Vetter on a backhander from the slot at 7:59 of the extra session.

No. 2 Wisconsin will meet No. 1 Ohio State, a 5-0 winner over Minnesota Duluth in Friday’s first game, in the championship game on Saturday.

The No. 5 Gophers (27-9-2) now await the news on Sunday on where they are headed for the NCAA Tournament. In the meantime, they undoubtedly will replay in their minds those final eight seconds of regulation again and again.

Frost and his staff replayed the video again and again in the locker room as the Gophers prepared for the overtime.

“The puck got below the goal line to the side of our net,” Frost said as he recounted what took place. “O’Brien tried to pass in front of the net. (Gophers center) Ella (Huber) leads with her stick, it goes off her stick and pops in the air. It goes off Skylar’s shoulder and into the net.”

The Gophers had taken a 3-2 lead at 16:16 of the third period on a power-play goal by captain Peyton Hemp. Although the Gophers ended up being outshot 42-23 in the game, it appeared they were going to be able to hang on.

“It’s a game of perseverance,” Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson said. “You’ve got 38 seconds to go in the game and a faceoff in your own end. Can you get your goalie out? We found a way to get that chance.”

Eden’s game-winning goal also came off a scramble.

“After we got that one with eight seconds left in regulation the momentum was totally on our side,” Eden said. “We were buzzing, we were knocking at the back of the net for a while going into overtime.

“Sometimes the puck ends up on your stick in the slot area. Britta (Curl) made a nice place, and it’s just get the puck to the net. You never know what’s going to happen.”

The Gophers played without No. 2 center Madison Kaiser after the midpoint of the second period after she appeared to injure her left arm after crashing into the end boards on a rush toward the Wisconsin net.

Allie Franco moved up from the fourth line to replace Kaiser on the second line, and she had a great chance to end the game six minutes into overtime, only to be stopped in tight by Badgers goaltender Ava McNaughton.

Franco skated away shaking her head and looking toward the sky.

Less than two minutes later, Eden scored the game-winner.

“We live another day and the opportunity to play for a trophy,” Johnson said.

The Gophers, who had hoped to defend their WCHA Tournament championship, will need to regroup after a heart-wrenching loss.

“Obviously, the results weren’t what we wanted when you look back and we’re eight seconds from winning the hockey game,” Frost said. “But really proud of our group.

“Man, they battled. In the end we couldn’t find a way to win it even though we had some chances. We were right there against a very, very good opponent.”

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