MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Badgers scored two goals in the final 6:07 of the third period, breaking open a one-goal game, and defeated the Mercyhurst men's hockey team 5-2 in front of 11,394 fans at the Kohl Center. The Lakers dropped back to a game under .500 at 6-7-1 overall on the season. Wisconsin improved to 7-8-1 on the year.

Despite the 7-2 and 5-2 losses to Wisconsin this weekend, the scores don't necessarily indicate how the Lakers played. Mercyhurst went toe-to-toe with the perennial power in front of five-digit attendances each night, outshooting Wisconsin 26-21 on Friday and keeping the shots even again on Saturday, losing the battle 28-27.

In fact, the Lakers jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Saturday, courtesy of senior Kevin Noble's second goal of the season just 2:06 into the opening period. Junior Paul Chiasson and freshman Daniel Bahntge had the assists. With the assist, Bahntge became the first player this season to reach 10 points. He was joined by senior Derek Elliott later in the game.

But, the Badgers came back with two goals in the span of 1:31 late in the first period to take a 2-1 lead to the locker room. Brendan Woods tied the game at 1-1 at the 16:17 mark on a delayed penalty against the Lakers. Mark Zengerle and Tyler Barnes had the assists. Then, with Mercyhurst's Charlie Carkin in the penalty box, the Badgers took their first lead of the night with Justin Schultz scoring the power play goal at 17:48. Zengerle and Joseph LaBate had the assists.

Wisconsin held a slight 7-6 advantage in shots after the opening twenty minutes.

The score remained 2-1 until the Badgers extended the lead to two goals 50 seconds into the third period on the first goal of the season from Eric Springer. Michael Mersch and Keegan Meuer had the assists.

Mercyhurst, however, would not go quietly. Elliott poked home a rebound at the 7:16 mark of the third period to cut the Wisconsin lead to 3-2. It was the senior's fifth goal of the season and was assisted by a pair of freshmen, Nardo Nagtzaam and Chris Bodo.

The Badgers fed off the loud crowd at the Kohl Center and put the game out of reach with a pair of goals from LaBate and Barnes at 13:51 and 17:08 respectively to skate away with the 5-2 win.

Mercyhurst, who came in as the least penalized team in the country, was whistled for a season-high 12 minor penalties for 24 minutes. Four of those minors came after Wisconsin scored their final goal of the night, when Noble and Carkin each picked up double minors for roughing. The Badgers, meanwhile, had 28 minutes in penalties on 10 infractions, with 16 of those minutes coming during the skirmish late in the game.

The Lakers, who entered tied for seventh in the country on the power play, was held to 0-for-3 on the night. Wisconsin finished the night 2-for-6 on the power play, and finished 5-for-10 over the weekend. Senior Max Strang took the loss in goal, stopping 23-of-28 Wisconsin shots. Landon Peterson got the win for the Badgers, stopping 25-of-27 Mercyhurst shots.

Mercyhurst will head back into conference play next Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3, as the Lakers travel to Army to take on the Black Knights for a pair of Atlantic Hockey Association contests. Faceoffs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. both nights.