The ISU women’s hockey team dropped two matches to St. Cloud State over the weekend. St. Cloud defeated the Cyclones 5-1 on Saturday and 5-0 on Sunday at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.

St. Cloud State scored its first two goals in the first five minutes of Sunday’s game, and the final three all came in a one-minute span bridging the end of the second period and beginning of the third.

“We had a lot of lapses in intensity, and St. Cloud took advantage of it,” ISU assistant coach and faculty adviser Mike Owen said.

“Some of our players were sick, and we just didn’t focus as well as possible. We missed some good opportunities.”

Iowa State and St. Cloud State both had several power play chances, but neither team could convert.

Despite the losses, there were some positive aspects to the weekend, ISU head coach Blake Marshall said.

“We had some good penalty kills,” Marshall said. “We just need to focus a little more and maintain our intensity.”

St. Cloud is a top-caliber opponent for the Cyclones, Owen said.

“They have a great Division I program,” he said.

“A lot of the people who don’t make their varsity play for the club team.”

With the losses, Iowa State falls to 3-15 overall and 2-15 in American Collegiate Hockey Association conference play.

The Cyclones are ranked seventh in the eight-team West division. St. Cloud State is second in the division and in the top five nationally.

The Cyclones face the Huskies again in St. Cloud, Minn., Friday and Saturday.