The Cyclone hockey program extended its 1998 unbeaten streak to eight games this weekend, dropping the University of Michigan at Dearborn in two consecutive games.

Head Coach Al Murdoch and his troops were a perfect 6-and-0 entering the first contest on Friday night, but the Wolves of Michigan-Dearborn were also undefeated on the season and were playing at home.

The defending CSCHL tournament champion Wolves jumped on top early, but Iowa State tied the score on the strength of a Todd Dundas rebound goal at 9:54 of the first period.

By midway through the second period, UMD was ahead 3-1, but quick scores by Darren Anderson, Joe Fiebiger and Tory Larson gave the Cyclones a 4-3 advantage heading into the final period of play.

Iowa State maintained offensive pressure in the third, as Fiebiger and Glenn Detulleo netted insurance goals to secure a 6-4 Cyclone win.

Freshman netminder Dan LaVoie played well, stopping 22 of 26 shots.

Murdoch was happy with his team’s play in the first game of the series.

“It was definitely a barnburner,” the coach explained. “All three scoring lines had good games, LaVoie played great in the net and we finally pulled away in the third.”

On Saturday, Coach Murdoch took the team to Joe Louis Arena for a tour of the facilities and, lo and behold, the Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings were on hand. After taking in the Detroit practice and chatting with Red Wing co-Head Coach Barry Smith, a close personal acquaintance of Murdoch’s, the team returned to Dearborn for game two.

Duly inspired, the Cyclones came out firing and took a 2-0 lead into the second period on goals by Detulleo and Darcy Anderson.

Darcy, Darren and Nat Little traded goals with the Wolves, and by midway through the period, Iowa State was up, 5-3.

At this point, the Cyclone defense began to break down and Dearborn was able to net three unanswered goals before the break to take a 6-5 lead.

In the third period, Murdoch inserted Marc Vargas in net in relief of LaVoie.

Defenseman Rob Rose knotted the score at six apiece early in the third period on a blueline slapshot, but the Wolves answered with a goal of their own.

As time ticked away, the Cyclones seemed destined for a weekend split, but a Marc Sarazin slapshot from the point put ISU back in the game and forced a five-minute sudden death period.

The two teams went back and forth in the extra frame but couldn’t put the puck in the net. With only 34 seconds to go, Murdoch called a time out and diagrammed a play for his first power play unit, which he put on the ice despite the fact that the teams were at even-strength.

A series of pinpoint passes between Darren and Darcy gave the latter a scoring chance with just seconds remaining. Darcy took advantage of his opportunity, completing a hat trick for himself and the series sweep for the team.

“It was a classic,” Murdoch said. “It wasn’t exactly the play I drew up, but he put the puck in the net and that’s what matters.”

Murdoch was also impressed with the play of his defense and goalie, Marc Vargas.

“The defense is playing bigger and stronger every game,” Murdoch said. “And Vargas came on strong and allowed only one goal through the third and overtime periods.”

The Cyclones will again put their perfect record on the line this weekend with a two-game home series against the Arizona State Sun Devils.