The Iowa State hockey team collected two weighty wins against Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks over the weekend, advancing its overall record to 29-5.

The team accomplished what it set out to do, which was win both games by impressive scores.

Friday, the ISU team whipped the Warhawks 10-2. Saturday, the skaters pulled away in the third period to win 6-2.

After the Saturday victory, Coach Al Murdoch said, “We felt we needed to win tonight to confirm going to the league tournament.”

Although the Cyclones are ranked No. 1 in the nation, they are not the crown-wearing team in the Central States League.

The two wins secured the Cyclones a slot in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League tournament. The four-team competition will be held Feb. 20-21 at the University of Illinois.

Friday night Murdoch said the team played good “solid” hockey and he was pleased with the outcome.

Darren Anderson, who collected four goals in Friday’s match, said, “We came in on fire.”

Other contributors to Friday’s score include ISU’s Chris Poli and Terry Conlin, who netted a pair of goals each. Cyclones Bob Dressel and Darcy Anderson also pushed the puck across the line for one point apiece.

Saturday night the Cyclones came out with a win, but until the third period was under way, Whitewater still had a chance at a weekend split.

In the first of the three chapters, ISU picked up one goal while Wisconsin remained scoreless.

In the second, the Cyclones garnered two more goals, but also allowed one to slide in, leaving the ice with a score of 3-2.

Hakaan Walltin, assistant coach, said ISU was the better team but came in underestimating the Warhawks.

He said the Cyclones “didn’t hustle as much, especially in the second.”

“We left our brains in the locker room,” Walltin said.

ISU managed to pull away in the final period by scoring three goals.

Darren Anderson, who snagged his fifth score of the weekend on Saturday night, said “it all fell together in the third [period].”

Cyclone Brian Paolello was responsible for two of those three, and Jason Vega wrapped up the match with a goal with 1:22 left to play.

“We still need some work. We’re not in national championship form yet,” Vega said. “We’re still building steam.”

The team plays its last regular season series against Western Michigan Feb. 13 and 14. Western Michigan didn’t make the cut for the national tournament that will be hosted by ISU at Hilton, and Coach Murdoch predicts the team will come to Ames “with a chip on its shoulder.”

ISU will host nationals at Hilton on March 4-7. The eight teams selected for the National Invitational Tournament include (according to rank): ISU, Michigan-Dearborn, Penn State, Ohio, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Delaware and Arizona State.