A festive crowd of 3,256 fans filed into the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Saturday night to cheer for the RoughRiders and have a good time, but the end result was a big chill for everyone.

The Lincoln Stars defeated the RoughRiders, 5-2, and all those fans were sent back out into the snowy, bone-chilling weather with an empty feeling.

Cedar Rapids rallied and tied the USHL game, 2-2, in the second period on goals by Andrew Poturalski and Mark Auk, but Lincoln scored twice within 52 seconds late in the period to grab a 4-2 advantage.

The RoughRiders had a two-man advantage for the first 2 minutes, 20 seconds of the third period but failed to capitalize as Lincoln goalie Michael Bitzer turned aside several shots and his defensemen blocked several others.

Lincoln scored again in the third period and claimed the victory.

Cedar Rapids will play its third game in three days when it visits Green Bay Sunday afternoon.

Lincoln            1  3  1 - 5
Cedar Rapids    0  2  0 - 2

L - John Simonson (Brandon Smith)
L - Christian Lampasso (Tommy Marchin)
CR - Andrew Poturalski (Corey Petrash)
CR - Mark Auk (Frederick Tiffels)
L - Blake Chrisensen (Ludvig Hoff)
L - Ludvig Hoff (Dominick Sacco)
L - David Parrottino