After claiming their victory at the home opener against the Hawkeyes, the Cyclones have a streak of home games awaiting them before they hit the road again. 

During the second home game of the season, Iowa State went up against the South Dakota Coyotes, but the match ended tied in a 0-0 draw. 

Gametime

At the beginning of the game, the Cyclones demonstrated dominance over the Coyotes as they were able to approach the net very early in the game and make several shots that only created a sense of confidence as the first set went along. 

The Cyclones’ offense maintained a tight watch as they intercepted the Coyotes and kept them from approaching the net altogether. 

Starting off the second half, both teams amped up the pressure because it was time to score. The Cyclones mostly dominated the ball and continued to fight their way through the Coyotes’ offense, but no one scored just yet.  

Up to the 55-minute mark, the Cyclones were aiming for a clean game without unnecessary mistakes. 

Building process

Sunday’s match was also senior day, but according to head coach Matt Fannon, only a few of the seniors are officially leaving at the end of the year; the rest are pondering returning status. 

“Sometimes the emotion and melancholy leading up to senior day may leave some of the players a little worked up, but that was not the case today,” Fannon said. “They got in and got after it, showing a great level of energy and commitment.”

One factor to be admired by the Cyclones is the flexibility of their lineup. Every player that came into the game gave their best effort and showed the same level of dominance on the field. 

“Building a team can be challenging because getting over that hump of being the underdogs can be difficult,” Fannon said. “But if we continue to play the way we played today, we will be where we want to be.”

Early in the season, Matt Fannon has emphasized playing with a sense of urgency, which is key when it comes down to breaking a tied game, but during this match, the Cyclones and the Coyotes concluded the match tied 0-0. 

Only getting started

As the season moves along, the Cyclones improve their consistency and resilience to attack the ball and take advantage of every play. For reference, the team totals demonstrate the capability of the team, with a total of 22-4 shots on goal. 

“Truthfully, we were fantastic; we dominated and moved the ball in a fun way,” Fannon said. “We did really special things and showed things that we haven’t been able to show before.”

The Cyclones will play the Omaha Mavericks at 6 p.m. Thursday.