After a mid-season stretch in which they won 15 consecutive games, the third-ranked Ohio Bobcats had won just three of their past nine games before hosting a two-game series with the fifth-ranked Cyclones of Iowa State.

Game one, which the Bobcats won 1-0, consisted of physical play.  Both teams’ defenses dominated and scoring was kept to a minimum. The first period, which contained three penalties and no scoring, set the tone for what was to come. It was evident that this was not going to be a scoring fest and that one goal just might win the game.

Early in the second period, Jay Mazzarella of the ‘Cats took a big hit and was forced to the locker room with help from a teammate. That only added fuel to the Bobcat’s fire, which was already blazing from all of the recent defeats. The second period mimicked the first with four penalties and no scoring.

With overtime eminent, both teams knew that a score could win them the game. Through two periods, the Cyclones outshot the ‘Cats 25-15, so it seemed likely they would score first. That was not the case, and with 16:22 remaining in the game, the Bobcats’ Ryan Tessmer scored his 23^rd goal of the season to put his team ahead by one. Josh Fodor assisted the goal, and it proved to be the winning margin.

The final period was not without some late-game drama. With 1:52 remaining on the clock, a slashing penalty was called against Steve Osacky of the ‘Cats, which gave the Cyclones a power play opportunity for the rest of the game. The Bobcat defense, led by goalie Paul Marshall who had 37 saves, held strong and hung on for the win.

Game two of the two-game set proved to be just as physical, although many more goals were scored in than in game one. The Bobcats (29-8) won the second game as well, 4-2, but not without a good fight from the visiting Cyclones (23-13).

The ‘Cats got on the scoreboard early, with Michael Schultz scoring on a power play with 2:25 left in the period. Tyler Pilmore and Zack Barbis assisted the goal.

The play began to get especially physical in the second period. With 9:58 remaining in the period, both teams were called for roughing, causing each team to play shorthanded. While the players were serving their penalty, Schultz scored his second goal of the game and his 24^th of the season. Schultz leads the team in scoring. The assists for this goal were credited to Osacky and Barbis. Shortly thereafter, the Cyclones scored a goal of their own to cut the deficit to one.

The ‘Cats took advantage of another Cyclone penalty when Pilmore scored a goal assisted by Barbis and Nick Rostek, making the score 3-1.

The physicality continued when Tessmer suffered a big hit, causing him to leave the ice and Brent Cornelius of the Cyclones to be ejected from the game. Tessmer later returned in the third period.

It was early in the third period when the Green and White began making mistakes of their own. Due to two Bobcat penalties, Iowa State held a two-man advantage that led to a score with 12:52 remaining in the game to make the score 3-2.

With 10:49 remaining, Schultz and Rostek assisted Pilmore’s second goal of the game and 14^th of the season, which widened the lead to two.

The Bobcats held the Cyclones scoreless for the rest of the period to earn their third straight victory.

The ‘Cats were massively outshot by their opponents in the series, 82-51, but more importantly for them, they were not outscored. Ohio never trailed during either game against Iowa State. The Bobcats now have momentum back on their side as the season winds to a close.

Looking ahead, the Green and White will host the Golden Flashes of Kent State University (21-12) next Friday and Saturday with both games’ start time set for 7:30 p.m.

—