MADISON, Wisconsin - The Mercyhurst men's hockey team allowed Wisconsin the fewest amount of shots on goal by a Laker opponent this season. The problem was that the Badgers scored on one-third of the shots they took, including five  by special teams, and defeated the Lakers 7-2 on Friday night in front of 10,374 fans at the Kohl Center. The loss snapped a three-game unbeaten streak and dropped the Lakers to 6-6-1 overall. The Badgers improved to 6-8-1 on the season.

Mercyhurst dropped to 0-3 lifetime against the Badgers, and have now been outscored 18-4 in those three games.

Mercyhurst outshot Wisconsin 26-21 for the contest, but the Badgers made their shots count, scoring seven times in those 21 shots, and chased senior goaltender Max Strang seconds into the third period in the process. Strang stopped just 8-of-13 Badger shots on Friday night and made way for freshman Jake Williams, who allowed two goals on eight shots in his first collegiate action.

The changing moment of the night came in the first period, when Wisconsin's Keegan Meuer was whistled for a five-minute major for hitting sophomore defenseman Nick Jones from behind at the 12:00 mark. Meuer was also assessed a game misconduct. Mercyhurst could not capitalize on the five-minute power play, and actually gave up two shorthanded goals during that span, as Wisconsin took a 2-0 lead after the opening period.

Michael Mersch found a wide-open Jefferson Dahl parked in front of Strang for Wisconsin's first goal at the 13:20 mark of the opening period. Justin Schultz had the other assist. Then, nearly three minutes later, Dahl found Mersch for a 2-0 Badger lead at 16:07 of the opening period.

Shots on goal were even in the first period, 4-4.

The hosts jumped out to a 3-0 advantage just 24 seconds into the second period as Schultz converted a power play for the Badgers. Frankie Simonelli and Mark Zengerle had the assists.

Mercyhurst would get to within two goals at the 14:28 mark of the second period, when Jones scored his third goal of the season on the power play. Senior Derek Elliott had the lone assist.

The Lakers outshot Wisconsin 12-7 in the second period.

The Badgers began to put the game out of reach in the opening minute of the third period. With Wisconsin on the power play, Zengerle scored just 26 seconds into the final twenty minutes, putting Wisconsin back up by three goals at 4-1. But, the Badgers were not done, as Simonelli scored 33 seconds later to take a 5-1 lead, and in the process, ended Strang's night.

Zengerle, who came in with a 13-game point scoring streak, finished the night with a goal and four assists for the Badgers.

Elliott scored a power play goal at the 8:33 mark of the third to get Mercyhurst back to within three goals. The senior's fourth goal of the season was assisted by two freshmen, Daniel Bahntge and Tyler Shiplo. But, the Badgers ended the scoring, and ended any Mercyhurst thoughts of a comeback, with the final two goals of the night. Mersch and Schultz had power play goals at 14:53 and 19:18 to end the scoring.

Shots again were even in the third, 10-10.

Seven of the nine goals scored came with someone in the penalty box. Wisconsin was 3-of-4 on the power play and had the two shorthanded goals during the five-minute major in the first period. Mercyhurst, meanwhile, was 2-for-6. 

Strang suffered the loss in net, dropping to 6-6-1 on the season. Wisconsin freshman goaltender Joel Rumpel stopped 24-of-26 Mercyhurst shots and improved to 5-3-1 on the season.

Mercyhurst and Wisconsin will wrap up the weekend series on Saturday night in Madison, Wisconsin. Faceoff is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. CT.