It was a tale of two nights when the Cyclone hockey team took to the ice for a series with conference rival Ohio.

Friday night defense was the name of the game as the Bobcats (8-3-1, 1-1-0 CSHL) were able to pick up the 1-0 win against the Cyclones (11-2-1, 3-1-0 CSHL).

On Saturday, the ISU offense came to play, picking up three goals in the first period on the way to a 4-3 win for a split of the series.

For ISU coach Al Murdoch, one of the biggest differences from night-to-night was that Ohio only played two lines compared to Iowa State’s four.

“Their top two lines are good,” Murdoch said. “But our four lines combined are better.”

The fourth line of the ISU attack came up big on Saturday night when sophomore Scott Antonsen was able to pick up two goals, including the game winner.

Antonsen, who scored his second and third goals of the year Saturday, gives all the credit to his linemates for getting him the puck.

“I can’t take all the credit, I am nowhere without them,” Antonsen said. “We have been a little snake-bit lately. But, the harder we work, the more chances we got, and finally the puck went in the net.”

Senior goaltender Matt Cooper was also a major bright spot during the series, according to Murdoch.

“He played absolutely outstanding in the net,” Murdoch said. “He once again gave us the opportunity to win.”

Senior forward Jon Feavel also gave a great deal of credit to the senior goaltender.

“He is the reason that we are playing the way we are,” Feavel said. “Even if we don’t show up in front of him, like Friday, he is still playing his heart out back there.”

Feavel played a key role in the game on Saturday, as he was able to pick up a goal, his sixth of the season, to extend his team’s lead in points.

Iowa State was able to outshoot the Bobcats during the series 56-53, which was a number that really stuck out to Murdoch.

Murdoch said he had a meeting with the captains on Saturday after the way the team played on Friday night.

“I laid out the game plan to the captains before the game,” Murdoch said. “They bought into it, and when the captains bought in, that led to a win over a very, very good Ohio University team.”

Murdoch said with a smile and a laugh that his biggest disappointment was not getting five goals on Friday.

“I just wish we could have gotten that last goal for ‘five goals for fries’ at McDonald’s,” Murdoch said. “I wanted to send the near-sellout crowd home happy. We just couldn’t get one more for those fries.”