On Saturday night at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena, the ISU hockey team picked up right where it left off on Friday night and earned a 5–0 shutout win over the Eastern Michigan Eagles.

After the weekend sweep of the Eagles, the Cyclones earned eight much-needed points toward the American Collegiate Hockey Association and toward seeding for the upcoming Central States Collegiate Hockey League tournament.

“After the split last weekend with Illinois, it was nice to come home and sweep and get those eight points,” said associate head coach Brian Wierson.

ISU freshman goalie Paul Karus earned his first shutout win of the season as well. Karus was able to stop all 10 of Eastern Michigan’s shots on goal.

“It was real nice getting that first shutout of my career,” Karus said. “I’ve been getting half-game shutouts all year, so to finally get this one was big.”

The Cyclone defense was a huge part in Karus’ win. Coming into the series, the Cyclones were allowing 25 shots on goal per game, but they walked away from this game allowing the opposing team only 10 shots on goal.

“[Our defense] does a good job of limiting shots, limiting prime scoring opportunities and they just do their job, which makes my job easier,” Karus said.

The Cyclones scored their first goal 15:06 into the first period on an unassisted goal by freshman forward David Kurbatsky. The goal was Kurbatsky’s team-leading 25th goal of the season.

The Cyclones would add another goal right before the period on a power-play goal by forward Jordan Pascale, assisted by sophomore Cody Steele. Iowa State took a 2–0 lead into the locker room at the first intermission.

In the second period, a goal nearly five minutes into the period by ISU senior forward Pete Majkozak continued the Cyclones scoring run to put them up 3–0. Nine minutes later, junior forward Mitch Paulsen found the back of the net, scoring on a deflection after sophomore Nick Larsen’s slap shot. The goal would be the last score of the period, and the Cyclones took a dominant 4–0 lead into the last period of play. In the period, Iowa State only allowed one shot by Eastern Michigan.

“We all played well positionally, we all communicated and we did our jobs, and that’s what made a difference [in limiting shots],” Kurbatsky said.

In the third, Larsen added another goal to the Cyclones’ lead on a power play by getting the puck through Eastern Michigan goalie Rob Cupit’s legs. The Cyclones would go on to coast to victory and their ninth sweep of the season.

The Cyclones have seen both goalies earn shutouts in the last two weeks: Karus this weekend and junior Eric Hudson last weekend against Illinois.

“The Central States Collegiate Hockey League is, I think, the toughest hockey league in the nation,” said Eagles’ coach Stephen Hill. “If you look at the standings, if you look at past history, it’s typically your top eight teams in this division are always going to nationals. Obviously, we played a good team here in Iowa State University, and I wish them the best of luck the rest of the way.”