The No. 8 ISU hockey team left Athens, Ohio, earlier than expected after a 5-1 loss to No. 11 Illinois in the first round of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League Tournament last Friday.

Illinois went on to lose to the eventual champions of the CSCHL, Lindenwood, by the same score, 5-1. Lindenwood had three third-period goals to propel it to a 6-4 victory over the runner-up, Ohio.

“Illinois outplayed us,” said Iowa State coach Al Murdoch. “I would say that they outplayed us in every aspect of the game.”

Prior to the start of the tournament Friday, the Cyclones were 3-1 against the Illini this season including a two-game-series sweep in Champaign, Ill., on Jan. 20 and 21.

“I thought, personally that we had a pretty good first period,” said Brandon Clark, a junior defenseman and assistant captain. “In the second period, we got in a little bit of penalty trouble and the game started getting carried away.”

Illinois led by only one goal after the first period, but it was able to capitalize on three power-play goals in the game. One was in the first period and two were in the second on the same five-minute-major power play.

The Cyclones were down 5-0 in the second period before Jon Feavel scored the Cyclones’ only goal of the game. Feavel, sophomore forward, has played in all 40 games this season for the Cyclones and is currently second on the team in points with 37, just three points behind the team leader J.P. Kascsak. He is tied for the team lead in assists with 19 and is third on the team in goals with 18. Only David Kurbatsky and Kascsak have scored more goals for the Cyclones this season.

The Cyclones have a two-game set at home this Friday and Saturday against Waldorf College and then they move on to the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament. The Cyclones will play No. 9 Oklahoma in the first round in Kent, Ohio. With this in mind, Murdoch said that it’s possible, but not likely, that they let their focus down while looking ahead too early.

“It’s a possibility,” Murdoch said. “That’s not typical of our team. Now, maybe it is this one, but it’s not typical of our team.”

The Cyclones have their home finale for the season this Friday and Saturday against Waldorf College. Friday is senior night.