In their first home tournament of the season, the ISU Lacrosse team took two of three games from league opponents April 1-2 and brought a taste of the predominately eastern sport to Ames.

The Cyclones roared back from a slow start and an 11-1 loss to Mankato State University to beat University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse and St. John’s University in convincing fashion.

The weekend tournament was the first in Ames since the ISU club team joined the Upper Midwest Lacrosse League, a division of the United States Lacrosse Intercollegiate Association.

The Cyclones managed only one goal in the tournament opener against nationally-ranked Mankato State.

Iowa State could not retaliate from the 7-0 half-time deficit, as the No. 23 Mankato offense poured in 11 goals in the victory.

The Cyclones narrowly evaded a shutout as attacker Nate Harty scored ISU’s lone goal in the remaining seconds of the game.

The home team offense was sparked in its second tournament game, as the Cyclones stormed over UW-L by a final score of 5-1.

Midfielder Brent Lamm led the offensive attack with three goals, and midfielder Pete Thomas and attacker Jason Hubanks each chipped in a goal for Iowa State.

Midfielder John Downing and attacker Brent Nichols both passed off assists in the team’s first hometown victory of the season.

The offensive momentum carried over into the Cyclone’s final game, punctuating the tournament with a 9-3 victory over St. John’s University.

Midfielder Jerry Dietsch led the balanced offensive attack with two goals and an assist.

Downing, Lamm and Nichols, as well as midfielders Josh Frandsen, Ben Perry and Evan Saxton-Williams each contributed a goal in the winning effort.

Goalkeeper Aaron Lozano saved 15 goals on the weekend, and defender Branson Nickel added another dimension to the Cyclone attack with his relentless defense and team support.

“We started off a little slow, but we pulled together and took charge,” said midfielder Steve Bertling. “We’re a young team.”

While the lacrosse team works through the “preseason rust” in preparation for the league tournament, one factor keeps the team on the winning end.

“The team works together well,” Saxton-Williams said. “We play with a lot of heart.”