Missed opportunities and stellar goaltending spelled defeat for the Iowa State Cyclones, as they fell 3-2 to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Friday night. Freshman James Werner scored both goals for the Cyclones, who fall below .500 to 3-4 on the year.

“That’s a good Arizona state team, I’ll give them credit,” said coach Al Murdoch. “We outshot them all three periods, but their goaltender stood on his head.”

Sun Devil goalie Mark Schacker played strong and stifling hockey, stopping 46 of 48 shots from the Cyclones. Iowa State had multiple chances and odd-man rushes, but could not get enough past the ASU net-minder. The Cyclones closed the gap late on Werner’s second goal, but it was too little, too late.

“Our guys never gave up. They played great down to the end,” Murdoch said. “Our guys kept coming, kept playing hard and I thought we’d get it there at the end.”

Before the game, ISU men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg dropped the puck. Sporting a customized ISU hockey jersey, Hoiberg said he is excited for the basketball season and acknowledged the work of Murdoch in the ISU hockey program.

“What’s great with all the coaches at Iowa State is how well they support all the athletic programs,” Hoiberg said. “Coach Murdoch has done a lot of great things for this program.”

Arizona State sprinted out of the gates. Just over thirty seconds into the game, Danny McAuliffe received a Colin Hekle pass and shot it past ISU goalie Erik Hudson, stunning the crowd at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.

Back and forth action ruled the game throughout. Iowa State tied the game with five minutes to play in the first. Werner handled the puck at center ice wedged between two ASU defenders, but drove down the ice, wristed the puck and found twine.

“I came breaking down the lane and had a guy on me and a guy behind me,” Werner said. “I just tried to get a shot on net and fortunately it went in.”

Tied at one midway through the second period, a Sun Devil shot from the point rebounded out front. As the ASU power play expired, Pat Lind dumped in the rebound shot past Hudson to break the tie.

The two teams combined to go 0-8 on the power play. The Cyclones had good looks on net but couldn’t convert on any chances.

“I’d like to be scoring 25 percent of the time on the power play,” Murdoch said. “I thought special teams were pretty good tonight.”

Senior Mike Lebler knew how important the missed opportunities on special teams were tonight.

“Tonight we had a couple different line combinations,” Lebler said. “We got some pressure on and some chances but couldn’t get past the goalie.”

Iowa State increased the intensity in the third period in efforts to try and even up the score. The Cyclones were winning battles to the puck and being more physical, but everything they threw at the Sun Devil goalie, he stopped.

Arizona State made it a two-goal game with five minutes to play. A giveaway in the offensive zone led to a chance in front. Hudson stopped the initial goal, but the rebound shot got past him.

The Cyclones made it interesting in the final minute. With Hudson pulled for an extra man, a flurry of activity in front eventually turned into a goal when Werner shot it through. However, the Cyclones couldn’t add another goal with thirty seconds left, losing to the Sun Devils.

“It was a pretty fast, physical game out there,” Lebler said. “They’re a great squad. We’re looking to come back tomorrow as strong as we did today. We have to get at least one power play goal. That’s something we’ll key on.”

Murdoch also realizes tomorrow is a whole new game.

“We’ll come back tomorrow night with our heads up and pick up the Saturday night win,” Murdoch said.