Missed scoring opportunities by the Cyclone Hockey team led to a split of its weekend’s two-game series against the Robert Morris Eagles.   

In the first game of the series, the No. 9 Cyclones (14-2-1, 6-2-0 CSCHL) were able to hand No. 3 Robert Morris (11-2-1, 5-1-0 CSCHL) its first Central States Collegiate Hockey League loss, beating the Eagles 4-1. The Eagles were able to avoid being swept, winning the second game of the series 2-1.

ISU coach Al Murdoch credited the Eagles’ ability to escape Ames with only a split to the Cyclones not being able to seize on critical scoring chances. He pointed to the two missed open net shots by Jon Feavel and Chris Cucullu.

“I jotted down two or three times each period that we were so close,” Murdoch said. “I saw two players in one shift have a totally open net, Feavel and Cucullu, and not make the shot.”

Feavel is the Cyclones’ leader in goals with 11 and total points with 21. He was relatively quiet in the series against the Eagles, scoring once in the opening game.

ISU team captain Mark Huber said that unlike in game one of the series, the Cyclones were unable to finish their scoring chances in game two.

“We didn’t finish the puck when we needed to,” Huber said. “We had a couple breakaways, a couple ring off the post, a couple two-on-ones, and against a good team like [Robert Morris], we have to finish. They’re a good team, and if you don’t bury good teams when you have a chance, it is out of your hands.”

Systems also play factor in the weekend series. Huber said he felt the Cyclones could have executed better on the ice throughout.

Huber credited the Cyclones’ missed scoring chances and lackluster systems performances on mental distractions.

“I think we need to be more mentally focused,” Huber said. “We come to the rink with a lot of distractions going on, such as school and personal life. I think when we come to the rink we have to be ready to go and just be ready for game time.”

The distractions showed in game two of the series, as the Cyclones got two major five-minute penalties. The Cyclones were able to kill both of the penalties and didn’t allow the Eagles to score on a power play in the series.

Even though the Cyclones suffered a disappointing loss to the Eagles in the weekend series, ISU goalie Matt Cooper said it was a good learning experience and the team will learn from its mistakes.

“It was good to get experience against such a quality team,” Cooper said. “We need that kind of experience throughout the season; it will be good for us going against Minot State next weekend to get that experience under our belt. You might not sweep every top team in the country, but you just have to learn what you can do better from both games.”