Cyclones Get Two Early Goals to Knock-Off Kansas

AMES, Iowa - - The Iowa State soccer team got two quick first half goals by senior Amy Flores and never looked back, defeating defending co-Big 12 champion Kansas, 3-1 at the ISU Soccer Complex on Sunday. KU was ranked No. 4 in the Central Region by the NSCAA.

The Cyclones improved to 7-3-3 overall and 2-1-1 in the Big 12.

"We knew it would be a 90 minute battle because Kansas has great team speed and is real organized, but I am real proud of our players because they really stepped up," head coach Rebecca Hornbacher said. "The team played phenomenal together and they did everything we as a coaching staff asked them to do. It is a huge win for us and I am really excited for our team."

After Kansas began the match with two good scoring chances in the first minute, the Cyclones tallied two goals in their first two attempts. Amy Flores scored her fifth goal of the season as she headed the ball into the back right corner of the net off a cross from Jess Villhauer in the 13th minute. Villhauer's assist was her first point of the season.

Just 45-seconds later, Flores put Iowa State up 2-0 after she headed a cross from sophomore Erin Witte just outside the 8-yard box into the top right corner of the net. Flores six goals on the season lead ISU.

Kansas had a chance to cut the lead in half in the 27th minute, but Caroline Smith's penalty kick was stopped by Haig and a KU rebound sailed high. Haig notched a game-high six saves in the match.

The Jayhawks got on the board in the 59th minute on Nicole Braman's first goal of the season, but it did not hold as the Cyclones struck again 12 minutes later.

Freshman Meghan Smith scored her first career goal, taking a shot from the just outside the 8-yard box and burying into the back of the net. Another freshman, Leslie Hill, was credited with the assist, also the first of her career.

"We weren't content when we took our early lead," Hornbacher said. "We knew we needed to keep creating opportunities and continue to defend."

KU out-shot Iowa State 12-4 in the first half and 21-12 for the match, but most of their shots were either taken from long distances.

The Cyclones hit the road on Friday and play at No. 14 Texas A&M, then Sunday at Baylor in a 1 p.m. matchup.

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Players Mentioned

Amy Flores

Amy Flores

Leslie Hill

Meghan Smith

Jess Villhauer

Jess Villhauer

Erin Witte

Erin Witte

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics