MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin rookies K'Andre Miller and Mick Messner each collected their first collegiate goals in the second period as the Badgers shut out 10th-ranked Boston College 3-0 on Friday night in the season opener at the Kohl Center.
After a scoreless first period, Miller put the Badgers on top as he reeled in a pass from captain Peter Tischke at the top of the left-wing circle. Miller delayed before firing a wrist shot through a screen to beat Joseph Woll (22 saves) at 6:17.
Messner doubled the lead at the 15:57 mark of the middle frame as he followed his own rebound. Woll denied the rookie from the slot during an odd-man rush, but Messner collected the puck and found the open net for a 2-0 cushion.
Michael Kim had the most significant BC chance of the period, but the puck rolled off his backhand at the end of a shorthanded partial breakaway.
The Eagles mounted a comeback attempt in the third period with 14 shots on goal. Brothers Julius and Jesper Mattila nearly cut into the Wisconsin lead on a shorthanded rush, and freshman Oliver Wahlstrom rang the left post after beating Jack Berry (29 saves) clean from the right circle.
BC pulled Woll for an extra skater in the closing minute, but Tarek Baker sealed the win with an empty netter from the Eagles' blueline with 31 seconds on the clock.
The two schools meet again on Saturday (Oct. 13) at 8 p.m. (ET) to close the weekend series at the Kohl Center.