MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Lake Superior State hockey program (3-14-2, 2-8-1 CCHA) fell to the Wisconsin Badgers (8-11-0, 1-9-0 B1G) in the opening round of the second annual Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off by a final score of 4-0 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis. on Wednesday.

Both teams would apply pressure early, having multiple chances with numbers, but the defensive prowess of each goaltender would bail out both sides. Ethan Langenegger (Kamloops, B.C.) was able to fend off all 13 shots that he faced, but after making a save that drew him down to the ice, Benito Posa (Flint, Mich.) was there to defend an exposed net with a pair of late blocks to keep the Badgers off the board and keep the game scoreless going into the first intermission. 

After killing off the remainder of a late penalty that carried over from the opening period, the Badgers managed to get on the board first with a strike from Brock Caufield at the 2:36 mark of the second period, and Carson Bantle extended the Wisconsin lead to 2-0 a few minutes later after capitalizing on a power play opportunity. 

Despite several chances to get back into the game, the Badgers would ice the game away with a third goal at the 16:27 mark of the third period from Sam Strange and an empty-netter from Liam Malmquist less than two minutes later to secure the victory.

The Lakers will look to bounce back when they face the No. 15 UMass Minutemen in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off consolation game on Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.