This story was written by NMU Sports Information

GREEN BAY---Northern Michigan University Men's Ice Hockey (4-2, 2-0 WCHA) settled for a series split with the University of Wisconsin (5-2, 1-1 Big Ten), Saturday evening with the Badgers taking a 4-0 victory at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The Wildcats were able to hold UW scoreless most of the first period with despite a 13-3 shot advantage for the Badgers. A goal by Wisconsin's Ryan Wagner nearly 17 minutes into the period put NMU down, 1-0.

After a pair of UW goals out NMU in a 3-0 deficit, sophomore Mathias Israelsson (Ytterby, Sweden)entered the game between the pipes. Israelson recorded 21 saves the rest of the way, a season-high for Issraelsson.

For the season, Issraelsson's goal-against-average moves to 1.84 with as 21 of his saves in 2017 coming Saturday evening against UW. Issraelsson has competed in over 32 minutes after his performance on Saturday.

UW added their fourth goal in the third period with under seven minutes to play, resulting in the game's final score, 4-0.

NMU finished the series going a combined 2-11 in the power-play and 3-11 in the penalty-kill. Offensively, five different Wildcats recorded a pair of shots to lead the team.

Despite not scoring a point in the game, senior forward Robbie Payne (Gaylord, Michigan)continues to lead the country in goals scored with six in as many games. His eight total points has Payne tied for either in the country. Junior forward Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, California) is up to six assists after the weekend. That number has Loggins ranked in a tie for fifth nation-wide.

After six games, sophomore defender Philip Beaulieu (Duluth, Minnesota) has recorded 11 blocked shots, good enough for 11th in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

The Wildcats get nearly two weeks of rest in preparation for the Minnesota State University, Mankato. NMU will play host to the Mavericks November 3 and 4 with both contests in the Berry Events Center scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.


THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF FRIDAY'S GAME:

GREEN BAY---Northern Michigan University Men's Ice Hockey (4-1, 2-0 WCHA) needed overtime to defeat No. 5/6 University of Wisconsin (4-2, 1-1 Big Ten) Friday night, 5-4, from the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
 

The Wildcats ended the first period with the lead after a pair of goals from the squad's top line. The nation's top goal scorer, senior forward Robbie Payne (Gaylord, Michigan), picked up his sixth of the season just over half way through the opening period.

Sophomore forward Darien Craighead(Surrey, British Columbia) earned his third assist of the season on the play.
 

After the Badgers evened the score minutes later, NMU regained the lead with 43 seconds to play in the period when Craighead scored his second of 2017. Sophomore defender Philip Beaulieu(Duluth, Minnesota) and junior forward Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, California) each recorded assists.

It was Loggins' fifth of the season and Beaulieu's second that gave NMU the 2-1 lead after the first period.
 

Two more goals in the second gave the Wildcats a 4-2 lead going into the final period. The first score came from junior forward Denver Pierce (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) on his second of the season with senior forward Zach Diamantoni (Montgomery, New Jersey) picking up his first assist. The goal was scored on a break away with NMU in the penalty kill, down five skaters to three, on the ice.
 

Later, Beaulieu added to his point total scoring on the assists from junior forward Adam Rockwood(Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin) and Payne. It was Rockwood's second assist of the season and Payne's second.
 

A pair of goal for Wisconsin in the third period evened the score at four goals each to send the game into overtime. The sudden-death overtime period came to an end with just 17 seconds remaining when Pierce found the net for his second time on the evening.

His third goal of the season was assisted by Loggins who increased his season total to six, tied for second most in the country.
 

Between the pipes, junior goaltender Atte Tolvanen (Vihti, Finland) improved to 4-1 on the season with the victory. In just over 64 minutes of action, Tolvanen recorded 23 saves to bring his season total to 135.