No. 3 Hockey Falls to Wisconsin in Regional Final

Saturday, March 28

Worcester, Mass.

4:30 PM

Michigan State University

26-9-2

Wisconsin

23-12-2

OT 1

Wisconsin

Michigan St.

Hockey, huddle, pre-game, action, 2025-26

Photo by: Michael Caples

3/28/2026 9:23:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. – No. 3-seeded Michigan State hockey was defeated by No. 12-ranked Wisconsin in the Worcester Regional final on Saturday night, 4-3 in overtime, from the DCU Center. The Spartans held a 3-1 lead late in the third period but a flurry by the Badgers over the final five minutes ended Michigan State's season.

MSU was without star senior forward and Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist Charlie Stramel who departed from the game in the first period with an injury.

Michigan State's season concludes one win away from a Frozen Four appearance with an overall record of 26-9-2, a Great Lakes Invitational Championship, a Duel in the D trophy and a third consecutive Big Ten Regular Season Championship.

"That's a tough one for sure, credit to Wisconsin," Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale said. "They're a heck of a hockey team. I don't think I've been a part of a game like that. I don't have words to help the guys feel better, the only thing I can tell them is thank you. I've had a blast coaching this group of guys."

The Spartans special teams saw success on Saturday going 2-for-2 on both the power play and the penalty kill.

Senior Matt Basgall, junior Patrick Geary and junior Gavin O'Connell tallied goals for MSU. Freshman Porter Martone, freshman Anthony Romani, junior Tommi Mannisto, senior Tiernan Shoudy, freshman Ryker Lee and sophomore Owen West tallied assists.

Junior goaltender Trey Augustine kept the Spartans in it all game making 34 saves.

Augustine, Basgall and Martone were named to the All-Tournament Team, while Augustine was named as the Most Outstanding Player of the Worcester Regional following a 75 save (.938 Sv%) performance.

How It Happened
Michigan State dictated the pace of play for the first five minutes of the opening period, but it was a back-and-forth affair from then on out. Both sides traded blows as Augustine made 11 first period saves and MSU's defense limited clean looks on net.

Wisconsin opened the scoring just 19 seconds into the second frame, using the post to score off a face-off in Michigan State's defensive zone.

MSU made one final push on the power play nearing the mid-way point in the period when O'Connell potted the tying goal on a knuckling puck over the mask of Wisconsin's goaltender. Just 30 seconds later Michigan State took a 2-1 lead on a back door goal from Geary. A Shoudy stretch pass landed on Mannisto's stick, who patiently waited for Geary to streak in for an unmarked shot on the back door.

The Spartans came within inches of two additional goals in the period, first when a shot by freshman Ryker Lee had to go to an officials review. Lee came out of the penalty box and collected a stretch pass from Geary before trying to poke the puck under the Wisconsin's goaltender's pad on a breakaway. A deflected puck at the 18:11 mark of the second froze on the goal line before the Badger defense cleared it off.

Patrick Geary on the back door step! He gives us a 2-1 lead!

Tune in now on ESPN2! pic.twitter.com/HlIGNF93DY
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 28, 2026

The captain Basgall ripped a point shot on MSU's second power play of the game to provide Michigan State with an insurance goal 8:33 into the third period. Junior forward Shane Vansaghi screened off the Badger goaltender allowing Basgall's shot to find the back of the net.

Matt Basgall from the point makes it 3-1 on the power play!

Tune in now on ESPN2! pic.twitter.com/BKKq2O0PLX
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 28, 2026

Wisconsin found momentum late scoring a pair of goals with less than 5:00 remaining in regulation before tallying the game-winning goal 24 seconds into the sudden victory overtime period off a deflection.