GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Nobody expected North Dakota to sail unbeaten through the current college hockey season, even with a No. 1 national ranking and an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) on the resume.

But perhaps nobody expected that first loss to come at home tonight to Wisconsin, an unranked team this season and winner of just four games all last season.

The Badgers of Mike Eaves pulled off the shocker, stunning UND 3-1 in just the second home game for UND this season.

Wisconsin completed the upset by upstaging UND in areas it normally sparkles in, such as hustle, winning puck battles and putting a couple of great scoring chances on the board. It was not what a sellout of 11,788 came to Ralph Engelstad Arena to see, but it is what unfolded.

"We were slow all over the ice,'' UND head coach Brad Berry said. "We were slow forechecking. Execution wasn't very good in the first two periods. We had jump in the third, but we have to play to the level we had in the third period in order to have success.''

UND outshot the Badgers 12-4 in the third period, but entered the final 20 minutes trailing 3-1 and never could get a goal to ignite a rally. UND outshot Wisconsin 9-0 over the first six minutes of final period, but got no reward.

Luke Johnson gave UND a 1-0 lead at 7:31 of the first, snapping a wrist shot by UW goalie Matt Jurusik (29 saves) from the right faceoff circle to the short side.

Wisconsin answered that at 10:33 when fourth-line right wing Corbin McGuire hustled in on a goal-mouth scramble and pushed the rebound past UND goalie Matt Hrynik (20 saves).

Two nice setups by Wisconsin in the second period made it 3-1 and closed the scoring. Frosh Luke Kunin, projected to be an NHL first-round pick next summer, had nothing but net to shoot at just 37 seconds into the period when Wisconsin worked a 2-on-1 down low into the winning goal.

Jedd Soleway rifled home a drop pass at 9:06 off an Adam Rockwood setup.

UND had built the 6-0-2 record while playing seven of the first games on the road.

"We came off a good streak on the road, and obviously we got a little ahead of ourselves,'' assistant captain Paul LaDue said. "We've got to take it, learn from it. I think its good for our young guys to get a taste of what it (losing) feels like.''

Added LaDue: "We underestimated them. They came out flying and they deserved to win that game.''

Berry didn't disagree with that.

"They are a tight-checking team, they play hard, they play physical. They play right right way,'' Berry said.

Berry noted that all three goals by Wisconsin were scored from in front of the net.

"That's a strength we have. We have to make sure to tighten it up tomorrow.''

UND notes: UND scoring leader Drake Caggiula will return to UND's lineup Saturday for the 7:07 rematch. He had to sit out a one game suspension by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference for a hit to the head penalty in last Saturday's win over Colorado College ... UND dressed freshman goalie Matej Tomek for warmups, but Berry said it was only to get acclimated in small steps to college hockey and its rituals. He's been out all year with an injury and is close to returning ... Johnny Simonson led UND in shots on goal with six followed by Johson with four ... Soleway and McGuire each had four to lead Wisconsin.

Virg Foss covered UND hockey for 35 seasons for the Grand Forks Herald until his retirement. He's now in his 11th season of reporting on UND home games exclusively for UNDsports.com.