Cyclone Hockey finally returned to Ames on Friday night after a long break and two away series. However, the outcome was not what the Cyclones wanted, as they suffered a 4-3 loss in overtime against Robert Morris University.

The Cyclones recently split a series with Robert Morris, when they played at their home arena in Bensenville, Illinois. The Cyclones won 3-2 and lost 3-0 in that first series.

Saturday night, the Cyclones will look to even this weekend’s series after a tough overtime loss.

“If we don’t work, we don’t win, and that’s what happened tonight,” said head coach and general manager Jason Fairman.

The game went back and forth with the Cyclones going up 2-0 in the second period, courtesy of senior forwards Colton Kramer and Trevor Sabo.

The Eagles answered back with a goal with 46.7 seconds left in the second period, and then tied it at two with 8:52 left in the third period.

Senior forward Aaron Azevedo scored the go-ahead goal on the power play just minutes later, but the Eagles tied the game again with 1:25 left. They later went on to score in 4-on-4 overtime to win the game.

Fairman said special teams were good Friday night as the Cyclones killed off all of their penalties, and scored both a power play goal and a short-handed goal.

However, Saturday night’s game will not be about special teams, but about better effort all around.

“We need that effort, top to bottom, from everyone in our lineup,” Sabo said.

The crowd at Ames/ISU Ice Arena gives the Cyclones a little boost when they play there at home, so the fans will be looking to cheer them on to a win on Saturday. Players agreed that coming home to play is always comforting after being away.

“The outcome wasn’t what we wanted, but it felt good to be back at home in front of our fans,” Sabo said.

Saturday’s game will take place at 7:30 p.m. and will be the final regular season game against Robert Morris University.