AMES – The Cyclones were the underdogs in this matchup, as the Drury Panthers had a 15-1 record going into the final game of the semester. This weekend’s meeting between Iowa State and Drury marks the second time these two have met this season.
Hosting the Panthers at home, the Cyclones hoped to extend their win streak following their sweep against Northern Illinois University.
Friday night summary
Iowa State had a grasp on the successful Drury team. For the Cyclones, they played aggressively and found a way to keep the energy up throughout the game.
Physicality played a key role and resulted in the Cyclones earning six penalties throughout Friday’s game. Iowa State struck first on Friday night with a goal scored by defenseman Riley Kress at 6:13 in the first period.
As the game played on, Drury found a way to score two goals in the second period to take the lead.
The third period ended up scoreless, as the Panthers claimed their 2-1 victory Friday over the Cyclones.
Iowa State maintains high energy despite no score in the first period
The Cyclones opened up Saturday with a positive outlook as the energy and connections kept them in a great position.
A period ending in a tie seems to be a consistent part of this hockey club’s season. Despite this frequent factor, the Cyclones had a secure defense and plenty of shots on goal.
On the defensive side, goalie William Pinney made some crucial saves to avoid the deficit. Being the goalie relies heavily on reflexes and being able to read the play throughout the season, and Pinney has excelled in that sense.
This team has dealt with adversity and when put in those positions, Pinney knows that resetting after an error is the key.
“There’s gonna be games where things don’t go your way,” Pinney said. “You just gotta keep playing and make the saves that you’re trained to make.”
Drury’s offense explodes in the second period
The second period opened with a 0-0 tie and Iowa State was searching for the lead. Their desire to pull ahead was quickly silenced.
The Panthers struck first at 4:11 in the second period.
The Cyclones found their way to light the lamp at 11:44. John Kovarik scored the goal, assisted by defenseman Ben Pfannenstein. This seemed to be the only spark Iowa State had.
A period of missed passes and fighting against a tough defense put the Cyclones in a dangerous position. Iowa State’s ability to rebound after a goal scored is just not to the standard it’s capable of.
The Cyclones had 15 shots on goal as opposed to the Panthers’ 12. Iowa State had the offensive will, but ultimately, the turnaround time after a goal is scored creates an energy depletion for the team.
“We’re not really worried about our puck possession, more so of our breakdowns in the defensive zone,” defenseman DJ Girardi said.
Four-goal deficit became too deep to fill in the third period
Coming off of a period where the defense of the Cyclones needed a boost, they looked to get back in the game.
Kovarik found a way to strike early at 3:29 in the third period.
Only down by two goals with 16 minutes to play, the Cyclones stayed in the game, but ultimately, the comeback never happened for the team.
To close out the game, Drury scored its final goal of the period to secure a 5-2 victory.
Despite this loss, Iowa State is progressing greatly from the coaching switch to trying different line combinations. Against a team with a 16-1 record, the Cyclones are finding the chemistry and method to succeed even if the game ends in a loss.
A consistent player for Iowa State was Kovarik. Throughout the weekend, he had two goals and an assist. Throughout his success, he credited his teammates and coaches to put him in this position.
“It feels good,” Kovarik said. “I do gotta credit DJ [Girardi] with the new system as our head coach. He really put something together, and it’s helped me succeed a lot by playing with my teammates and working together with some chemistry.”
As the semester ends, the Cyclones hope to have a fresh start Jan. 10 to 11 as they head to Minot, North Dakota, to take on the Minot State Beavers.
