MSU Falls to Wisconsin

For most of Saturday night, Michigan State looked like a team headed to the Frozen Four.

Then, in the final minutes, everything changed.

The No. 3 Spartans held a 3-1 lead over No. 12 Wisconsin in the Worcester Regional Final, just five minutes away from advancing. Instead, the Badgers scored twice in the final five minutes of regulation to force overtime before Ben Dexheimer’s shot found the back of the net just 24 seconds into the extra period.

Wisconsin won 4-3, ending Michigan State’s season and sending the Badgers to the Frozen Four.

After a scoreless opening period, Wisconsin struck first early in the second. Michigan State answered with goals from Gavin O’Connell and Patrick Geary to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. Matt Basgall then extended the lead to 3-1 early in the third.

But Wisconsin wouldn’t go away.

The Badgers scored twice in a span of just 34 seconds late in the third period to erase the Spartans’ lead and send the game to overtime. Dexheimer ended it less than a minute into the extra period, sending Wisconsin through and leaving Michigan State just short of its Frozen Four goal.

Trey Augustine finished the tournament with 75 saves across Michigan State’s two games in Worcester and was named the regional’s Most Outstanding Player. The Spartans finished the season 26-9-2, closing a season that had them among the top teams in the country but ultimately ended one game short of the Frozen Four.