(Madison, WI) The University of Wisconsin Badgers, ranked as high as #4 in one preseason poll, got a scare Friday, October 15, before subduing stubborn Mercyhurst 3-2 before nearly 12,000 fans at the Kohl Center. It was the first game of the season for each team and the first-ever meeting.

Mercyhurst surprised Wisconsin by scoring two late first period power play goals, the first by senior forward David Wrigley (Washago, Ontario) at 16:00 and the second by junior forward Dave Borrelli (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) at 17:52.

The Badgers didn’t get on the scoreboard until freshman forward Matt Aufrey scored on the power play at 18:20 of the second. Auffrey was taken by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the sixth round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

The Lakers maintained the 2-1 lead until 6:39 of the third when sophomore forward Jake Dowell, taken by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round, got the equalizer. Auffrey then scored the game-winner, on yet another power play, at 14:35.

Wisconsin outshot Mercyhurst 47-24. Mercyhurst junior netminder Andy Franck (Lakewood, Ohio) stopped 44 shots in defeat.

The Lakers were penalized 18 times for 36 minutes in the game to the Badgers 12 for 24.

The teams will conclude the two-game series at 7:05 central time Saturday night.