ISU vs. Illinois 1-22-10
Cyclones Earn CSCHL Conference Victory with 1-0 Shutout of No. 4 Illinois
Erik Hudson secures fifth shutout of season, Mike Lebler with game winner
Jan. 22, 2010 – Champaign, Ill. – The Cyclones traveled to Champaign for a crucial two game series with the University of Illinois. The Illini are currently ranked fourth in the latest ACHA rankings while the Cyclones remain sixth. With each game this weekend worth two points in CSCHL standings, the Cyclones were looking to move up and have the chance to secure a regular season winning record against Illinois in quite some time. By winning 1-0 Friday night, Iowa State earned at least a regular season split with the always tough Illini.
“We’re not coming here looking for splits, we are coming here to win and keep building toward the stretch run of our season,” commented head coach, Dr. Alan Murdoch.
The first period of play started out with both teams feeling each other out while the Cyclones quickly adjusted to the big ice in Champaign. Iowa State’s speed players adjusted even better putting instant pressure on the Illini defense and garnering several early first period shots. The Cyclones continued that pressure ending the period with seven total shots on net while Illinois only managed four. The score remained knotted at zero as the two teams headed to the locker room.
The Illini earned the first power play of the game when Iowa State’s Brian Spring (Urbandale, IA / North Iowa Outlaws – NAHL) was whistled for interference during the first shift. During the first series in Ames, three of the four Illini goals were scored on the power play, so the Cyclones stressed penalty killing throughout the week. The time spent there paid off as Iowa State successfully killed off two Illini power plays in the period. Just over one minute after the first successful kill, Mike Lebler (Penticton, BC / Nelson Leafs – KIJHL) streaked into the Illini zone slicing through the slot where he sniped over the shoulder of Mike Burda for the first lead of the game. The Illini would mount several surges throughout the period, but Iowa State held steady and ended the period with a power play of their own. Illinois outshot Iowa State 13-8 for the period, but Erik Hudson (Spokane, WA / Burnaby Express – BCHL) held strong to deny them all. Iowa State took the 1-0 lead and 1:03 remaining on the power play into the second intermission.
On fresh ice, the Cyclones looked to build on their lead. They moved the puck efficiently and had a couple of quality scoring chances but none good enough to beat Burda. With both teams at even strength, the play would go back and forth for the remainder of the game with both goaltenders making key saves to keep the margin at one goal. The Illini did not help their chances when captain Pierce Butler was whistled for an interference penalty with just over six minutes remaining. The Cyclones did not convert, but managed to control the play and run some time off the clock. With 1:36 remaining, Illinois pulled Burda for the extra attacker setting up a very intense final minute of play. With Illinois buzzing and the Cyclones standing tall, an icing call was made with what appeared to be three seconds remaining. After a short center ice meeting, the officials informed the coaches that the whistle had froze up at the six second mark. After an Iowa State timeout to get key personnel on the ice, Brad Krueger (Des Moines, IA / North Iowa Outlaws – NAHL) won the ensuing face-off to the far corner where Iowa State pinned the puck for the final few seconds securing the 1-0 victory. Hudson ended the game with 24 saves on 24 shots for his fifth shutout of the season, while Burda took the defeat turning aside 24 of 25 shots.
The victory marked the first time the Cyclones have won at the “Big Pond” in several years and was the first one for this class of seniors in Champaign.
“This is a big win for our team to know we can come in and beat Illinois on their home ice and also for league standings,” commented senior captain Brent Cornelius.
The two teams will face off again Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Illinois Ice Arena.
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GAME SUMMARY
GOALS BY PERIOD 1 2 3 FINAL
IOWA STATE: 0 1 0 1
ILLINOIS: 0 0 0 0
First Period – No Scoring.
Penalties: ISU: Kohles (13:42 – roughing), UI: Heredia (13:42 – roughing)
Second Period – Scoring: ISU; 4:16 Lebler (Pascale).
Penalties: ISU: Spring (1:05 – interference), ISU: Condon (11:42 – interference), UI: Gilbert (18:57 – hooking)
.
Third Period – No Scoring.
Penalties: UI: Butler (13:28 – interference)
SHOTS BY PERIOD 1 2 3 TOTAL
IOWA STATE: 7 8 10 25
ILLINOIS: 4 13 7 24
GOALTENDERS (SV/SH) 1 2 3 TOTAL
IOWA STATE: Hudson 4/4 13/13 7/7 24/24
ILLINOIS: Burda 7/7 7/8 10/10 24/25
POWER PLAY: IOWA STATE: 0/2 ILLINOIS: 0/2
PENALTIES: IOWA STATE: 3/6 ILLINOIS: 3/6
