2017 Soccer Season In Review

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State soccer team completed its 2017 season, as fourth-year head coach Tony Minatta continued to develop his program with a young squad that showed promise for the future. Iowa State concluded the season with a 3-12-3 record, and finished one spot short of qualifying for a bid to the 2017 Big 12 Championship.

Cyclone fans certainly saw flashes of the future however, as Iowa State will return 12 of its 13 goals next season, as well as 32 of 35 points.

Cyclone Soccer Headlines
-The Iowa State Soccer team (3-12-3) closed out the 2017 season with a 2-1 win at Kansas State on Oct. 27. The Cyclones finished just one spot out of qualifying for a bid to the 2017 Big 12 Championship.

-The match marked the first time Iowa State and Kansas State had ever met on the pitch. The Wildcats completed their first season as a full member of the Big 12 after starting their program in 2016. Taylor Wagner scored her first goal of the season in the 40th minute from well beyond the 18-yard box, and Emily Steil put the game away in the 73rd minute, burying a penalty kick to lift Iowa State to victory.

-In their final home game of the season on Oct. 22 vs. Texas Tech, the Cyclones honored their four seniors in Brianna Johnson, Sasha Stinson, Lindsey Hendon and Stella Maris Strohman. Iowa State ended the match with a 1-1 tied against the Red Raiders.

-Shea Sullivan and Hannah Cade connected on Iowa State's equalizing goal in the final minutes vs. Texas Tech to send the match to overtime. The Red Raiders held a 1-0 advantage on a goal by Carly Wickenheiser (45'), but Sullivan played a beautiful cross in, finding Cade at the far post in the 87th minute. The sophomore buried the chance for her first goal of the season.

-Iowa State ended the regular season T-No. 1 nationally in overtime matches played with eight. The Cyclones are one of eight Division I teams to play eight overtime matches, including one of just two teams from a "Power 5" conference (Nebraska).

-Unfortunately, the close matches didn't go Iowa State's way, as the Cyclones went 0-5-3 on the season in overtime contests. Five of the eight OT matches were in Big 12 play (at BU, vs. OU, vs. OSU, vs. TCU, vs. Texas Tech).

-Center back Jordan Enga was one of Iowa State's top performers, stabilizing an otherwise injury-riddled ISU back line this season. Enga ranks No. 1 on the team in playing time with 1,690 of 1,705 possible minutes played so far this season. She was not subbed out of a match after Aug. 21 vs. Minnesota.

-Iowa State's freshman class got valuable experience this season, with five different newcomers garnering at least one start: McKenna Schultz, Dayja Schwichtenberg, Abby Harbin, Courtney Powell and Shea Sullivan. Powell ranks No. 2 on the team in goals (2) and points (5). In total, freshmen have logged 3,394 minutes in 87 appearances this season.

-After the season, Iowa State had 12 soccer student-athletes earn Academic All-Big 12 honors. Riley Behan, Hannah Cade, Brianna Curtis, Lindsey Hendon, Carly Langhurst, Klasey Medelberg, Merin Mundt, Kasey Opfer, Antonia Reyes, Emily Steil, Sasha Stinson and Stella Maris Strohman were all Academic All-Big 12 First Team honorees.

-Medelberg came on strong in the second half of the season to lead a Cyclones offensive attack that created chances, but struggled to put the ball in the back of the net at times. The junior forward ranked first on the team in points (6) and goals (3), and was No. 2 on the team in shots (45) and shots on goal (13).

-No. 11 West Virginia was the fifth NSCAA top-25 opponent this season for the Cyclones, all of which ended the season in the nation's top 15 (No. 6 Florida, No. 10 West Virginia, No. 11 Baylor No. 13 USC and No. 14 Texas).

Players Mentioned

Riley Behan

Hannah Cade

Brianna Curtis

Jordan Enga

Lindsey Hendon

Brianna Johnson

Carly Langhurst

Klasey Medelberg

Merin Mundt

Kasey Opfer

Courtney Powell

Antonia Reyes

McKenna Schultz

Dayja Schwichtenberg

Emily Steil

Sasha Stinson

Stella Maris Strohman

Taylor Wagner

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics