Coming into this weekend, the ISU hockey team realized it could play with the top teams in the country, which gave the Cyclones confidence.

On Friday night, Iowa State began the game against No. 6 Oklahoma with a quick goal a minute and a half into the game. Oklahoma scored a short time later to tie it up. Iowa State added two more goals and allowed Oklahoma to score again on a goalie miscue bringing the score to 3–2.

After the miscue, the Cyclones never looked back. Iowa State went on to upset the Sooners 6–2.

The Cyclones were led by junior forward Mike Lebler’s three goals.

“We just out worked them and outhit them,” Lebler said. “They just kind of curled up and went away after a couple goals and a couple big hits.”

After Friday’s game, Iowa State looked to carry its success over to Saturday night.

Saturday’s game began in slow fashion, as neither team scored in the first period. Then in the second period, Oklahoma scored three unanswered goals and it looked as though the Cyclones were in a deep hole. Right before the period ended, the Cyclones found life after a goal from senior forward Brian Spring.

“Spring’s goal got us momentum going into the third period, which gave us a little mind set,” said senior forward Pete Majkozak. “3–1 is a lot different than 3–0.”

Iowa State still had work to do, and coach Al Murdoch was aware his team would have to step up.

“We weren’t playing our style of game,” Murdoch said. “We weren’t playing with reckless abandon, and we weren’t winning the races to the puck. We looked like a team that was kind of waiting for the game to be over.”

The Cyclones got exactly what they needed in the third period. Six and a half minutes into the period, defenseman Brody Toigo scored on a slap shot from the blue line off of a power play. Less than a minute later, Majkozak found the back of the net as well to tie the game. Regulation ended with a 3–3 tie. Goalie Eric Hudson stopped 19-of-22 shots, and Oklahoma ended the third period with only two shots on goal.

Overtime began with a quick penalty on the Cyclones, forcing them to play flawless defense. Iowa State killed the penalty two minutes later and Oklahoma was penalized. Nearly a minute later, Majkozak scored the game-winning goal.

“We got it set up perfectly with the power play,” Majkozak said. “[Defenseman Brady] Irwin got the puck at the middle of the ice and our eyes kind of met and he gave me a perfect pass. It was a bad angle, but I thought as long as I got good wood on it, you never know. Lucky enough, I found the back of the net.”

Majkozak’s goal gave the Cyclones a 4–3 win in overtime. The sweep of Oklahoma is likely to move the Cyclones up in the rankings, which will be released on Friday.

“This win definitely shows at the national level that we can be a top team this year,” Majkozak said.