The Cyclone Hockey team came within inches of sweeping No. 4 Oklahoma last weekend, but a surplus of blown chances Saturday saw the No. 6 Cyclones fall short in a 3-2 shootout loss.

“We had a slow start, and we’re not finishing well,” said interim head coach Brian Wilkie. “We put ourselves down early, and we had guys doing the simplest of things wrong. It’s the woes of a hockey team, that we just can’t finish what we start.”

A late third period goal on Saturday by freshman Pete Majkozak tied the game at two, sending the Cyclones (22-9-1) into overtime for the fourth time this month.

Majkozak, who was suspended from Friday night’s game after being ejected for fighting last weekend at Illinois, scored both of the Cyclones’ regulation goals on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“I was really well rested after sitting out on Friday,” said Majkozak. “It was tough to not be suited up, but it really got me jacked up for [Saturday’s] game and I think it also helped me focus more.”

A scoreless overtime period sent the game to a shootout, where the Cyclones got off to a hot start with goals by Majkozak and junior Jayson Peterson.

Outstanding goaltending by senior Trent Baker kept three of four Sooners out of the net, putting the Cyclones up 2-1 with just one shooter remaining.

But Oklahoma’s final shooter Matt Pangrac found the nylon behind Baker and Cyclone freshman Brian Spring was stuffed to equalize the shootout and send it to a sixth shooter.

After Baker shut down Oklahoma’s Owen Brewer for the second time in the shootout, all eyes turned to the red-hot Majkozak, who had the chance to score his fourth game-winning goal in the last eight games.

After faking Oklahoma goalie Aaron Schmeilski out of his pads, Majkozak lifted the puck over Schmeilski’s shoulders and heard the sound all shooters dread: clank. Majkozak’s shot missed by inches, as it ricocheted off the crossbar, giving the Sooners life once more, an opportunity they wouldn’t waste again.

Oklahoma (24-4-0) then converted on its next shooter, and Schmeilski stopped his fifth consecutive shot of the shootout.

Maroon from the visitor’s bench poured onto the ice in celebration at the game’s end.

“We had them down at points, and then we gave them life,” said Wilkie. “You just can’t do that against nationally ranked teams like this.”

“We had the chance to bury them and we shot ourselves in the foot.”

An enthusiastic crowd on Friday night saw the Cyclones play arguably their best game of the year, as they won 4-2. Spring got the Cyclones going early, scoring his second and third goals of the season since joining the team at semester.

Sophomore Mike Murtaugh and Peterson also scored for the Cyclones, who complimented the offense by playing outstanding defense against one of the nation’s most prolific offenses. The relentless Cyclones played extremely physical for all three periods against the Sooners, never giving them a chance to get into the game.

The resurgence of Baker continued against Oklahoma, as last week’s player of the week made 76 saves on the weekend, and kept the Cyclones close despite being out shot 80-59.

“I have to give credit to all of the players for doing a great job of giving me a clear view of the shooter this weekend,” said Baker.

“They did a great job of boxing out in front of me, and the bottom line is I just saw the puck all weekend.”

After going 3-3 in the toughest stretch of the season, the Cyclones will get a chance to exhale next weekend when they visit Saint Louis University (2-22-0).

The Billiken’s have owned the cellar of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League all season.