EAST LANSING – The Michigan State Spartans, ranked first in the nation, returned to Munn Ice Arena this weekend seeking to build on their successful sweep against Notre Dame. However, facing off against the No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers, they encountered a challenging second period that resulted in a 5-4 loss, marking their first defeat in Big Ten play this season.
The Spartans began the game strong, showcasing their forecheck in the first period when senior forward Charlie Stramel, a former Badger, forced a turnover at the Wisconsin blue line. Freshman forward Porter Martone assisted winger Daniel Russell, who scored his second goal of the season, giving MSU a 1-0 lead. Minutes later, on the power play, Martone scored himself off a pass from sophomore Shane Vansaghi, extending the lead to 2-0 at the end of the first period.
However, the tides turned dramatically in the second period. The Badgers quickly got on the scoreboard with a power-play goal from Christian Fitzgerald just over a minute in, marking his ninth goal of the season. Wisconsin continued to build momentum, scoring three additional goals during the period, ultimately leading 4-2 by the intermission.
MSU coach Adam Nightingale acknowledged the struggles of his team in the second frame, emphasizing the need for better execution against a skilled opponent. “They took it to us, and a lot of up and down the sheet… when you’re playing a really good team, you can’t afford to make those errors,” he noted.
Defenseman Matt Basgall echoed these sentiments, highlighting a lack of detail and intensity in their defensive play, allowing Wisconsin to exploit gaps in their coverage.
In the third period, the Spartans mounted a comeback attempt. Freshman Ryker Lee’s deflected pass found the net, narrowing the Badgers’ lead to just one goal. However, Wisconsin quickly responded, with Ryan Botterill scoring a rebound just 16 seconds later to restore a two-goal cushion. Martone managed to strike again shortly afterwards, netting his second goal by capitalizing on an assist from Russell.
Despite pulling goaltender Trey Augustine for an additional attacker in the final moments, Michigan State was unable to equalize. Augustine finished the game with 29 saves while Wisconsin’s Eli Pulver made 35 saves in his first start of the season.
The Spartans are set to face the Badgers again on November 22, with the puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m., providing them an opportunity to bounce back from this loss and continue their pursuit of excellence in the Big Ten.