Cyclones upset Eagles in second round, play No. 4 Ohio next

photo: Jonathan Krueger/Iowa State Daily

Junior forward Chris Cucullu and Robert Morris defender Ryan O’Connell both stretch for the puck on Oct. 19 at Ames/ISU Ice Arena. The Cyclones defeated seventh ranked Robert Morris 3-1.

Clint Cole

After having Ryan Reid and Nate Percy alternate on the line with Jon Feavel and Chris Cucullu all week long in practice, the decision to put Percy on the line for the Saturday, March 2, game against tournament host Robert Morris paid off.

The No. 12 ISU hockey team beat No. 5 Robert Morris (Ill.) 2-1 in the second round of the ACHA national tournament in Bensenville, Ill., after an overtime goal by Percy 2:07 into the overtime period to move on to the third round against Ohio on Sunday.

Matt Cooper started in goal for the Cyclones on Saturday and stopped 33-of-34 RMU shots.

The Eagles (28-7-2) put the Cyclones (25-16-3) down early with a goal by RMU forward Derek Winkler 1:59 into the first period, but Feavel scored the equalizer 18:46 into the second period while Cooper held strong in net for the Cyclones.

Percy had the assist on Feavel’s goal, which gave him two points on the night and Cucullu assisted on both goals, which also gave him two points in the game. Cooper is allowing 1.07 goals per game and has a .959 save percentage this season in 10 games. He is 9-1-0 this season.

The Cyclones play No. 4 Ohio on Sunday, March 3, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. CST at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Ill.