Wisconsin G Vetter wins Kazmaier Award

Mar 21, 2009 - 7:21 PM BOSTON (Ticker) -- The University of Wisconsin became the second school in the nation with multiple winners of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award on Saturday, when senior goaltender Jessie Vetter received the honor during a ceremony at the Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston.

Vetter joins Sara Bauer (2006) as members of the Badgers to win the award. Harvard is the only other NCAA team to boast multiple winners, having claimed the trophy six times since its inception in 1998.

The Crimson's Jennifer Botterill is the only two-time recipient, while Vetter edged Sarah Vaillancourt - along with Meghan Agosta of Mercyhurst - to deny the Harvard forward from becoming the first back-to-back winner.

Vetter received the award one day after leading Wisconsin to a 5-1 victory over the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a spot in the NCAA championship game for a record fourth consecutive year. The Badgers hope to claim their third national title in four years when they take on Agosta and Mercyhurst at the Agganis Arena in Boston on Sunday.

"Jessie is the backbone of our team, and without her, similar to our last three seasons, we wouldn't be where we are today," Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson said. "She has certainly proven that she is not only the best goaltender at the collegiate level, but internationally as well."

Owning a 9-1 career record in the NCAA tournament, Vetter has posted 31 victories and a national-record 13 shutouts this season. She also tops the nation with a .940 save percentage and is second with a 1.29 goals-against average.

Vetter's career marks of 89 wins and 38 shutouts also rank her first on the NCAA all-time list.