ISU to Take on Auburn and Georgia at Auburn Soccer Classic

AMES, Iowa-The Iowa State soccer team (2-1, 0-0 Big 12) heads to Auburn, Ala. this weekend for the Auburn Soccer Classic. On Friday, the Cyclones take on No. 21 Auburn (3-1, 0-0 SEC) at 7 p.m. CT. Iowa State will be back in action on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT when they take on Georgia (2-1-1, 0-0 SEC), also in Auburn, Ala.

Last Time Out
The Cyclones had just one game the past weekend when they took on Creighton Sunday. Iowa State left Omaha with a 3-1 win after a dominant second half. The Bluejays struck first in just the sixth minute, but Senior Koree Willer was able to tie the game up before halftime. Iowa State came out in the second half and played possibly its best 45 minutes under third-year head coach Tony Minatta. Freshman Tegan Alexander scored the game-winning goal and sophomore Klasey Medelberg put the game away when she made it 3-1 in the 80th minute.

Scouting the Tigers
Iowa State will meet Auburn for the first time in program history Friday night. The Tigers enter the game ranked No. 21 and are riding a three-game winning streak. The Tigers dropped their season opener to No. 14 Clemson at home before defeating South Alabama, Cal State Fullerton, and Samford. Auburn was pegged third in SEC Preseason Poll and had five players selected to the SEC Preseason Watch List.

Auburn has had a balanced attack so far in 2016, with three players with two goals apiece. Junior Kristen Dodson leads the way with a pair of goals and also a pair of assists. The Tigers also have a stout defense that has put together a pair of shutouts.

What to Watch For
The Iowa State backline has been very strong of late. They shut down every opportunity in the second half against Creighton, allowing just two shots. Maintaining possession will be the key. Iowa State struggled with that against their first SEC opponent, Florida, in the season opener. The Cyclones will need to connect passes from the backline up to the midfield and then also advance the ball up to a group of forwards that have been working well together lately.

Scouting the Bulldogs
The Cyclones and Bulldogs have split their only two meetings. Their last meeting was in 2011 where Georgia came out with a 2-0 victory. Georgia's lone loss this season was also against No. 14 Clemson, 3-1, and the Bulldogs tied Oklahoma State, 1-1. The Bulldog attack is led by senior forward Marion Crowder. Crowder leads the team with three goals, including a two-goal performance against Samford.

What to Watch For
The Cyclones will use their depth to throw a lot of lineups at the Bulldogs and stay fresh. With just one day off between games for both teams and weather forecasts near 90 degrees, fitness will play a major role. Iowa State has 16 players averaging at least 30 minutes per game. The Cyclones are becoming more versatile on the offensive end of the pitch. Freshman Tegan Alexander brings a new dimension to the Cyclone attack with the pace she brings. She was able to consistently beat the Bluejay defenders against Creighton.

The game on Friday night at Creighton will be streamed live on SEC Network + which can be accessed through WatchESPN. Fans can also follow Iowa State Soccer's Twitter account (@cycloneSCR) for live updates on the game. Check cyclones.com for results after the conclusion of the game.

ISU to Take on Auburn and Georgia at Auburn Soccer Classic

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Players Mentioned

Tegan Alexander

Klasey Medelberg

Koree Willer

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Iowa State University Athletics

ISU to Take on Auburn and Georgia at Auburn Soccer Classic

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tegan Alexander

Klasey Medelberg

Koree Willer

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