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Iowa State University Athletics
Friday, November 11
Lincoln, Neb.
TBA
Iowa State
0
vs
5
Portland
Cyclones Come Up Short in First-Ever NCAA Tournament Match
11.11.2005 | Soccer
LINCOLN, Neb.- Iowa State fell behind 4-0 in the first 17 minutes and played No. 1 Portland even the rest of the match, but was unable to come away with a victory in the school's and the state of Iowa's first-ever NCAA Tournament match on Friday.
"Our game plan was to go in there and have tremendous individual defending, but also to look to attack them," Iowa State head coach Rebecca Hornbacher said. "We created opportunities and were dangerous at times and we left it all on the field."
Portland got on the board early in the sixth minute as three-time All-American Christine Sinclair fed Megan Rapinoe for her 10th goal of the season. Sinclair took a cross to Rapinoe into the top-center of the 8-yard box and Rapinoe tucked it just above the outstretched arms of Cyclone goalkeeper Joanna Haig.
The second-team all-Big 12 performer came into the match with a 0.97 goals-against average, the first sub-1.00 average in Cyclone history. Haig garnered a game-high nine saves for the match.
The Pilots pushed the margin to 2-0 just two minutes later as Sinclair took a pass from Rapinoe to the right side and fired a shot into the back-right corner, just inside the post.
Portland got two more goals in the 17th minute by Natalie Budge and Sinclair to make it 4-0. Sinclair tacked on a late goal to complete her hat trick and finish off the 5-0 win.
With her three goals, Sinclair moved into sole possession of second place on the NCAA all-time list for goals scored in a career. Her 106 career goals are two better than Mia Hamm, who competed at North Carolina from 1989-90 and 1992-93. Sinclair leads the country with 35 goals scored this season.
"Portland is an outstanding team and I think they will be fighting for a national championship," Hornbacher said. "To be able to play against them in the first round was a challenge, but our team stepped up and showed we belonged in the NCAA Tournament."
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The Cyclones had two great scoring chances just before half by senior Kristina Baumann and sophomore Brittanie Waddell, but both were nullified by Pilot goalkeeper Cori Alexander, who had three first-half saves. Alexander has allowed just six goals this season.
ISU junior Kate Kirwan took a season-high five shots, four of them in the framework.
The loss was Iowa State's first over a ranked opponent this season, as the Cyclones were 2-0-1 in three previous matches vs. nationally ranked foes. Portland's five goals were the most given up by a Cyclone team since a 5-1 setback at Nebraska on Sept. 26, 2003.
Iowa State finished the season 11-7-3 overall, the best winning percentage in the 10-year history of soccer at ISU. The Cyclones finished tied for second in the Big 12 and garnered the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, both school bests. The Cyclones' 22 goals scored in conference play and 19 points in the Big 12 standings were also the most in school history.
"I'm extremely proud of the effort, determination and heart that every single player has had on our team this season," Hornbacher said. "The seniors laid a strong foundation and their efforts are to be commended. The future is bright and things will only get better from here."
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