ST. CLOUD, Minn. - Freshman forward Maggie Brennolt notched her first collegiate goal and added an assist, but the No. 10 Huskies dropped a 7-2 decision to the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers in the first game of the Easton Holiday Showcase at St. Cloud, Minn.
Florence Schelling started between the pipes for Northeastern and recorded 29 saves in two periods of play. Leah Sulyma relieved Schelling to begin the third period and made 12 saves in the final stanza.
Schelling kept the Huskies close in the first period by turning aside 14 Badger shots. Wisconsin eventually struck first at the 16:43 mark of the opening frame when Hilary Knight notched her 20th goal of the season.
The Badgers wasted little time in the second period to extend their lead when Anne Dronen lit the lamp for the first time this season just 44 seconds into the stanza. Then, at the 5:34 junction of the second period, Brianna Decker put Wisconsin up, 3-0.
After the Badgers made it 4-0, Brennolt finally opened the Huskies' scoring account at the 15:33 mark of the second period when she beat Badger goaltender Becca Ruegsegger (26 saves). Julia Marty and Falino added assists.
Brennolt's goal gave the Huskies plenty of momentum entering the third period and Northeastern used it to make it 4-2 just 1:53 into the frame. This time Brennolt set up Kristi Kehoe for the senior forward's third goal of the season. Falino picked up her second assist on Kehoe's strike.
Wisconsin responded seven minutes later when Knight scored her second goal of the game, this time on the power play. The Badgers added two more goals to complete the scoring.
In addition to her offensive production, Brennolt played well defensively and led all Huskies with a plus-2 rating.
Northeastern will conclude the Showcase on Sunday afternoon when it battles the host St. Cloud State Huskies. The puck is scheduled to drop at 4:07 p.m.