Video (01:27) : Brad Frost, Amanda Kessel and Sarah Potomak address the media after Friday's 3-2 overtime win over Wisconsin in the NCAA semifinals.

– The dance party wasn’t original. Lots of teams dance like crazy after huge victories. But the Gophers women’s hockey team also had a distinct cheer echoing from their locker room Friday night.

“Potty! Potty! Potty!”

Sarah Potomak, a freshman from British Columbia, had just made a brilliant move — a steal, stride and score — to give Minnesota a 3-2 overtime triumph over Wisconsin in the NCAA semifinals.

Teammates chanted her nickname as they celebrated a fifth consecutive trip to the national championship game. On Sunday, they’ll meet undefeated Boston College, which won its own 3-2 overtime thriller over Clarkson in the first semifinal.

“In games like this, your big-time players have to step up, but there have to be some unsung heroes as well,” Gophers coach Brad Frost said. “I guess you can call Potty an unsung hero, even though she’s national rookie of the year.”

Potomak received that honor Thursday, on the eve of the NCAA Women’ Frozen Four. She has 52 points this season, including 14 goals, none bigger than the one that eliminated Wisconsin.

Gallery: Gallery: Frozen Four Gophers 3, Wisconsin 2 OT Gallery: Gallery: Frozen Four Gophers 3, Wisconsin 2 OT

The Badgers have now fallen to the Gophers in the NCAA semifinals three consecutive years. Wisconsin (35-4-1) won the WCHA regular season title and beat Minnesota 1-0 two weeks ago in the conference tournament championship game.

The teams split the season series 3-3, with three battles going to overtime.

“I wish I was back in the NHL; we’d be going to a Game 7 — three games apiece, three overtimes,” Badgers coach Mark Johnson said. “It certainly stings. We had our opportunities.”

The border rivals had to wait to take the ice at Whittemore Center Arena, as Boston College (40-0) tied the opener with less than four minutes left and won on Haley Skarupa’s goal 58 seconds into overtime.

That set the stage for the nightcap before an announced crowd of 2,167 at the 6,500-seat home rink for the University of New Hampshire.

The Gophers (34-4-1) knew they’d have to solve Wisconsin’s junior goaltender Amanda Desbiens, one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the nation’s best player.

She posted 21 shutouts this season, including five in a row to start the postseason. But the Gophers snapped her scoreless streak with a quick first period goal from freshman Taylor Williamson — another unsung hero.

Sophia Shaver, a freshman from Wayzata, tied it for Wisconsin later in the first period, and the Gophers trailed 2-1 after giving up another goal with 17.8 seconds left in the second period.

Amanda Kessel tied it 27 seconds into the third on a wrist shot into the upper left corner.

Kessel, a 24-year senior, has 10 goals in 12 games since returning from a two-year concussion absence.

“That win ranks up in my top three wins, just unbelievable,” Kessel said. “I couldn’t tell you off the top of my head what the other two are, but I know it’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.”

Kessel was a junior in 2013, when the Gophers closed out a 41-0 season with a riveting NCAA tournament. They needed three overtimes to beat North Dakota in the quarterfinals, and another overtime to top Boston College in the semifinals.

Bonus hockey was in the air again Friday, as Minnesota and Wisconsin traded chances throughout. Gophers junior Dani Cameranesi hit the crossbar early in overtime on the power play. Then, Minnesota had to kill two penalties, with Amanda Leveille making some big saves.

Finally, 15 minutes into OT, Potomak stole the puck, steered toward the goal, shifted to her backhand and flipped a shot past Desbiens.

Potomak, 18, pulled at the ‘M’ on the front of her jersey as teammates raced onto the ice.

“In the locker room, it was just craziness,” Potomak said. “We were all super excited. We’re going to enjoy the moment and then focus on Sunday.”