That both Sara Bauer and Julie Chu were on the ice in the decisive moment of Wisconsin and Harvard's NCAA quarterfinal matchup seemed only fitting considering the role each has played in their schools' histories.

Harvard, one of the sports' historically dominant programs, and Wisconsin, the dominant program over the last two seasons, have had their respective record books rewritten by the two talented seniors.

Both Bauer and Chu own individual scoring records (Bauer is Wisconsin's all-time leader, while Chu is the NCAA's official leader), both won their conference's player of the year honors this season and both are finalists for the Patty Kazmaier award given to the nation's top player. The honors and records go on and on, but to put it simply, the two are among the top players in their schools' histories and the best in the country right now.

So it was no surprise that when Jinelle Zaugg put the winning score in the top right corner of the goal, it was set up by Bauer's pass with Chu on the ice looking on as her career ended.

Statistically speaking, the matchup between Bauer and Chu was a complete bust. Chu didn't register a single point. Bauer, despite playing over two games worth of hockey, didn't take one shot on net.

Stats can be misleading though, and the 5,125 people in attendance — the second largest crowd for a collegiate women's hockey game — had plenty of chances to see two of the country's top players, as the game was also the second longest in NCAA history and a hard-fought battle throughout.

"If you watched the game and you looked at our players, Sara stuck out. … She was probably our best forward overall from start to finish," Badger coach Mark Johnson said. "I don't think anybody from both teams had the puck more than Sara did."

Nobody may have been in control of the puck more than Bauer, but nobody prevented Wisconsin's all-time leading scorer from creating opportunities more than Chu did.

From the opening face-off, the two seemed to be attached at the hip. Wherever Chu went, Bauer was close behind, and wherever Bauer went Chu was right there with her, jostling with Wisconsin's leading scorer and not allowing her to find an offensive groove.

Seven periods of hockey later, the two were still going at it, both refusing to allow the other to end the game with a decisive goal.

"I was trying to pin her as much as I could out there," said Chu of guarding Bauer. "But at the same time she rolls real well so I had to make sure I didn't overplay her. … It was a great battle, and she's a great player."

Wisconsin, flush with depth, was able to stick to a consistent three-line rotation throughout the game, giving Bauer opportunities to rest on the bench often. Harvard however, didn't afford their star player the same amount of rest, making sure Chu was on the ice whenever Bauer was in addition to shifts when Bauer was taking a break. That didn't stop the Harvard star from playing at a high level, not allowing Bauer much room to operate despite the little rest.

"Nobody was given anything out there," Johnson said. "Nobody was given an inch."

Brittany Martin, Harvard's sophomore goaltender who played brilliantly, deflecting 67 shots before finally getting beat by Zaugg's one-timer, was quick to deflect praise after the game to the play of her teammates in front of her — those clearing the puck, taking and preventing shots.

She might as well have been talking about Chu, whose impact on the defensive end was immeasurable. In addition to marking Bauer the whole game, Chu was an integral part of the penalty kill; on the ice for the vast majority of the minutes the Crimson were a man down and a big part of the reason that Wisconsin — the nation's best power play team — went 0-3 with the advantage.

Even though it was Bauer registering the game-winning assist and leading her team to the Frozen Four for the second consecutive season, there was no doubt that the matchup between two of the sports' most outstanding players was everything it was billed to be. And, like the way she played all night, Chu isn't going to allow Bauer to take home a second straight Kazmaier award without a fight.