These stories were written by NMU Sports Information

GREEN BAY---Robbie Payne became the first Wildcat in 10 years to have a five-point night in Northern Michigan's 6-5 loss to Wisconsin Saturday night at the Resch Center.

The junior, who netted a goal in Friday's game, recorded two shorthanded goals and three assists to reach the five-point plateau, which was last accomplished by Mike Santorelli (2g-3a) in a 5-2 win at Nebraska-Omaha on Oct. 21, 2006.

The teams entered the final frame deadlocked at four apiece. Darien Craighead netted his second of the game to give Northern Michigan the lead just over two minutes in, but the Badgers responded with two-unanswered goals to secure the victory.

Wisconsin capitalized on its first man advantage of the game to jump out to a 1-0 lead at 5:34 when Luke Kunin beat Mathias Israelsson blocker side after a tic-tac-toe passing play.

Just over five minutes after their first successful power play, the Badgers were awarded their second. But, this time, it was Northern Michigan that struck. At 11:24, Payne raced down the left wing, beat his defender and rang a shot off the crossbar and in to even the score.

Gerard Hanson, who recorded three points (1g-2a) Friday, gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game on a man advantage at 15:38, lacing a Sami Salminen back-door pass into the upper right corner of the net from the right circle.

Wisconsin regained the lead early in the second period behind two goals scored in a three-minute window. First, Corbin McGuire netted a goal off a transition play at 1:38. Then, Will Johnson struck on a power play at 4:21.

Craighead's first career goal pulled the Wildcats even with the Badgers at 14:35. Payne set up Craighead's strike by corralling a loose puck on his knees and sliding a pass through traffic to the freshman to deflect into the net from the edge of the crease.

A major penalty on Luke Voltin threatened to swing the momentum back in Wisconsin's favor three minutes after Craighead's game-tying goal. The Badgers capitalized almost immediately, with Seamus Malone finishing off a textbook passing play at 16:13. 

But, just 30 seconds later, Payne netted his second shorthanded goal of the game to draw Northern Michigan even again. After picking off an outlet pass deep in Badger territory, Payne muscled his way around a defender and then pulled Matt Jurusik out of the net with a smooth fake for a tap-in goal.

Craighead deflected a second Payne pass past Jurusik to give the Wildcats the lead at 2:21. McGuire evened the score at 3:20 and Trent Frederic netted the game-winning goal on a man advantage at 11:36.

The Wildcats return to the ice next weekend, hosting Bemidji State in its home opener and first WCHA game Oct. 14-15. Both games will start at 7:07 p.m. They will be broadcast live on WUPT-FM (100.3 The Point), and on-line at www.radioresultsnetwork.com.

FRIDAY'S GAME: NORTHERN MICHIGAN 3, WISCONSIN 2

GREEN BAY— Gerard Hanson and BrockMaschmeyer factored into every goal as the Northern Michigan hockey team defeated Wisconsin, 3-2, Friday night at the Resch Center in its season-opening game.

Troy Loggins's first career strike proved to be the difference as Atte Tolvanen made 27 saves, including 14 in the final frame, to hold the Badgers at bay.

"I'm certainly really happy with this win," head coach Walt Kyle said. "We saw a lot of good things in the game and a lot of things we have to work on. I thought it was a great effort, and we had a lot of guys who had excellent games."

The Wildcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 19 seconds into the game by capitalizing on a Wisconsin turnover. Maschmeyer one-timed the loose puck from just above the left circle, and Hanson flipped the booming rebound over Matt Jurusik's glove.

Wisconsin took advantage of its first man advantage of the game to even the score at 4:50. Tolvanen denied Will Johnson's initial bid, but Johnson fired the rebound into the left corner of the net.

The Wildcats regained the lead at 10:17 after a Cameron Hughes boarding call gave them an extended 5-on-3 man advantage. Maschmeyer fired a shot from the point that Robbie Payne deflected past Jurusik.

Loggins gave Northern Michigan a two-goal cushion at 6:00 of the second period, taking a Hanson feed in the slot and ripping a shot through traffic past Jurusik low blocker side.

The Badgers struck just 35 seconds into the third to cut the Wildcats' lead down to one. Cameron Hughesforced a turnover along the boards and sent a pass over to Corbin McGuire in the slot for the score.

Wisconsin appeared to net the equalizer with 12:50 on the clock after a delayed penalty allowed Jurusik to come to the bench for the extra attacker. After Hughes fired a shot on net that Tolvanen stopped, the Badgers converged in the crease to try to send the puck home. Before the net was knocked off its moorings, Hanson pushed the loose puck underneath Tolvanen to keep it from crossing the line.

In the final minute of play, Tolvanen denied back-to-back bids by Johnson and Kunin to preserve Northern Michigan's victory.