Disappointed but not embarrassed.

That would describe how the ISU women’s hockey team felt as they went 1-3 in the first Cyclone Invitational last weekend at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.

The three losses were American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) western division games and most likely knocked the Cyclones out of a spot for the National Tournament. Iowa State is now 9-9-1 overall and 4-9-1 in the ACHA.

Iowa State opened up the tournament with a 2-1 loss to Colorado Friday night. The Buffaloes scored the game-winner with 2:12 remaining in the third period. Abbie Faults tallied the lone Cyclone goal early in the second period.

The Cyclones’ defense was tough in Saturday’s game against West Los Angeles College but not quite enough as Lisa Elazegui’s goal with 5:09 remaining in the first period put the Oilers up 1-0.

West Los Angeles took shot after shot in the second period but couldn’t put the puck past goalie Justine Skibbe.

The Oilers had 17 shots on goal in the period and had a game total of 35. West Los Angeles added an insurance goal late in the third period with 24 seconds remaining from Anne Gentling.

ISU head coach Blake Marshall said that the loss was tough.

“I commend West Los Angeles. They’re a solid club. They skate well, they’re well coached and well disciplined,” Marshall said.

“It was a hard loss for us. We played a tremendous game in my eyes and we played tremendous defensive hockey. It’s typical of what’s happened to us most of the season where things won’t bounce our way.”

Iowa State only managed four shots in the game and Skibbe had 32 saves for the Cyclones.

“Our goalie was absolutely phenomenal. We look to her for defensive leadership,” Marshall said.

“She keeps us in games. That’s her job and she does it well. That’s why she’s one of the top goaltenders in the league.”

West Los Angeles College head coach James Gasseau was anticipating a tough match-up against Iowa State, and said the game lived up to the challenge.

“Iowa State is very strong defensively and they have strong players offensively. It was one hell of a game,” Gasseau said. “Their goalie was very strong and she stopped a lot of shots in the net.”

Iowa State bounced back on Saturday evening and defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater 7-0 as Jessica Lohry collected a hat trick and Kara Thompson had two goals. Katie Dunn and April Lahman each tallied a goal as well.

In the Cyclones’ last game of the tournament, the Colorado Buffaloes took a 3-0 lead halfway into the second period and went on to win 4-2.

Colorado got on the board with 5:35 remaining in the first period on a goal by Ali Elkins. The Buffaloes scored again quickly in the second period on a power-play and with 9:38 remaining in the period.

Iowa State scored on an unassisted goal from Thompson, but after roughing and bench penalties, Colorado answered right back to make it 4-1. Dunn’s goal in the third wasn’t enough for the Cyclones.

“We played four good games. We kind of had a lot of pressure on us coming into the weekend knowing that if we beat West Los Angeles, we move up in the rankings,” Dunn said. “It was an emotional second period. It’s harder whey they score the fourth goal and you’re down by three. The important thing is we never, ever gave up.”

Lohry said the team couldn’t get it together until the third period.

“We played really well in the third period. It would be nice to have a three-goal comeback,” Lohry said.

“The first and second period, we just couldn’t get our passes together. Colorado played really well.

“This tournament is definitely going to help our skills,” Lohry added. “I think we improved so much this weekend. The competition was great. I have high hopes for the rest of the season, I think we’re finally clicking, too.”