Cyclone Hockey had nine opportunities to score in Friday night’s shootout against Robert Morris, but only one player, Michael Addison, found the back of the net.

The Cyclones lost the first game of the weekend double-header, and head coach Jason Fairman said his team wasn’t good and didn’t bring an effort.

After both this weekend and the weekend against Ohio in which the same problem arose, Fairman told his players they needed to be better. 

The team was just that in the next game Saturday night as the Cyclones doubled the Eagles’ shots and won 2-1, improving to 13-2-2 on the season.

“I challenged them before the game that we needed to see the Cyclone Hockey team that we know and love, of course using different words,” Fairman said.

Cyclone Hockey was once again able to bounce back after a loss after being challenged by Fairman and the coaching staff.

In one of those instances, Cyclone Hockey lost to Williston State in the middle of the week and proceeded to sweep the No. 2 team in the country the next weekend. 

That resilient nature has lingered around the team all weekend. 

“[Saturday night], we just all came together and the bounces started going,” said forward Aaron Azevedo. “We were getting plenty of shots and finally capitalized.”

The score was once again 1-1 heading into the third period Saturday night, but Azevedo scored the game winner 5 minutes and 16 seconds into the third period, ending the worry.

“It felt good, especially after this whole weekend when my line wasn’t working very well,” Azevedo said. “It was a relief off our shoulders getting a goal. We got pretty excited there at the end, so I was happy we were able to hold on.”

Azevedo wasn’t the only player who stood out for the Cyclones. Defenseman Kody Reuter scored his first goal as a Cyclone last weekend against Augustana. He added his second career goal this weekend to open the scoring Saturday.

The most impressive thing Reuter did, however, was pin the puck in the corner for the last 40 seconds of the game and seal the victory when the Eagles had a 6-on-4 advantage.

Fairman said he had never seen anything like that before in his hockey career.

“[Reuter] played phenomenally for us,” Fairman said. “I’m so pleased with his play, and he’s a great character kid. We’re happy for him and the goal he got and how he played this week.”

Azevedo and Reuter were the goal scorers Saturday night, but it took a complete team effort to get the Cyclones back on track.

“We had more energy and effort,” Reuter said. “We brought a lot more of that [Saturday night] compared to [Friday night].”

After scoring 29 goals last weekend against Augustana, Fairman had a little concern as his team scored only three regulation goals against Robert Morris.

He was more pleased with how his players came out strong in the second game after struggling to give a solid effort in game one.

“That was a very well played game for us,” Fairman said. “I’m very proud of the way they brought the effort. There were a couple challenges that built character. I couldn’t be more pleased with the way our guys battled [Saturday night].”