Two of the top teams in the A.C.H.A. renewed a rivalry this weekend, as the ISU hockey team split a pair of games with Minot State. The series also featured two coaches that will be on the same staff in February. Iowa State’s Al Murdoch and Minot State’s Brian Wilke will coach the U.S. All-star team early next year at the World University Games in Poland. A genuine respect is shared by both coaches towards one another and the rivalry. “I like challenges,” said Murdoch, “and I’d rather play against a team any day that’s tough with good coaching than one that we can blow away and won’t make adjustments.” “Al and I are friends, so that adds to the fun of it,” Wilke said. “It’s quite amazing how these guys talk and just want to beat each other.” The Cyclones came out Friday and posted a 7-2 win, but it didn’t start out as a shoot-out as the first goal of the game did not occur until just over four minutes were left in the first period. The score came courtesy of Minot’s Joe Hjelman when ISU’s Mark Krueger gave away the puck in his own zone. A redirected shot by Nat Little with nine seconds to go in the first gave Iowa State its first goal, making the score 1-1. The score remained tied until midway through the second period, Phil Hummel lit the lamp with another redirected tip, giving the Cyclones a lead they would not give up. Glenn Detulleo scored to give Iowa State a 3-1 lead before Minot pulled to within a goal near the end of the second stanza. It was in the third period when the home team pulled away, as the Clones netted four goals in a span of just over two-and-a-half minutes. Scores by Detulleo, Rob Rose, Mike Gilbertson and Krueger let Iowa State have a little room to breathe at the end. Little had points on six of the seven goals scored and made one of the best plays of the night, stopping a two-on-one break for the Beavers. “My linemates are really good, and they had a lot to do with that,” Little said. “It just happened that the puck was bouncing my way.” The puck did not seem to bounce the way of the Cyclones on Saturday, as Minot started strong in the first. Ryan Kristalovich started the scoring by beating goalie Phil Popp eleven minutes into the game. Jim Kelso and Todd MacMurchy also guided the puck into the back of the net, giving the Beavers a 3-0 lead at the end of the first twenty minutes. Kelso provided the only goal of the second period to give Minot a 4-0 advantage through two periods of play. As on Friday night, the leaders pulled away in the third period. Jason McCollum scored at about the half-way point of the frame to put the Cyclones back on the scoreboard at 4-1. But Kelso found paydirt again a few minutes later. That goal finished off a hat trick for the Beaver forward and created a 5-1 lead for Minot State. Tim Lang and Art Jarvinen completed the scoring as the visitors earned a 7-1 victory. The Beavers defense adjusted to their opponent’s gameplan, shutting down Iowa Sate’s potent offensive line of Detulleo, Krueger and Little during the second game of the series. Wilke said the team needed to refocus on its basic tactics. “[ISU’s] defensemen like to pinch, so we thought we could chip a few; and if we supported on the strong side a little more, we could probably get a couple of two-on-ones and three-on-ones, which we did,” he said. “We [also] dumped and pursued the puck well, and we’ve done well in getting scoring chances from taking the body first and then looking for the offense.” Minot goaltender Shawn Bergstrand was the star of Saturday’s game, holding the Cyclone offense in check after giving up seven goals the night before. “To come back after allowing seven goals and just give up one and play as well as he did shows huge character on his part,” Lang said. “If he plays like that every game, we’re going to have a lot of success.” “He’s actually a former teammate of mine and just played a hell of a game,” Little said. “He’s always been a solid goaltender.” The rivalry between the two teams will continue as the Cyclones visit Minot State on Nov. 3 and 4. The next challenge for Iowa State will come from Weber State on Friday and Saturday as the Cyclones continue their six-week homestand.