2024 Soccer Season in Review

AMES, Iowa – The Cyclones wrapped up their 2024 season with a 3-9-6 record and a 1-5-4 mark in the Big 12. Iowa State's six ties were the most in program history, as the team finished tied for 13th in league standings.

The Cyclones started the season getting off to their best start since 2016, toting a 2-1-1 record through four matches. ISU notched 15 goals in its first six contests, the most by an Iowa State team since the 1999 squad began the season with 17 goals in six games.

After a tough backstretch of non-conference action, Iowa State started conference play on a high note, knocking off Kansas on the road in the Big 12 opener. The Cyclones struggled to score from there, though, as they were blanked in six of their final nine conference outings. Still, Iowa State put itself in a position to make the postseason in the final matchup as it faced a "win-and-in" situation against Baylor. After leading 1-0 for 80 minutes of action, Baylor drew even in the 85th minute, securing a tie and ending ISU's season.

No. 16 TCU would go on to win the Big 12 regular season title, while No. 24 Texas Tech finished second. The Horned Frogs then faced sixth-seeded Kansas in the Big 12 Championship title game, falling to the Jayhawks 1-0. Seven Big 12 teams would end up qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, with three (TCU, Texas Tech and Colorado) advancing as far as the Second Round before bowing out.

Overall, Iowa State faced seven teams that received NCAA Tournament bids (Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, BYU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, TCU). Seven of Iowa State's opponents this season finished with double-figure wins.

Key Storylines

In 20 halves of Big 12 soccer, Iowa State recorded 12 shutout stanzas.
For the first time since 2018, Iowa State recorded consecutive shutouts. Redshirt sophomore Avery Gillahan blanked both K-State and Cincinnati to start October.
- Gillahan finished with five total clean sheets, with four coming in conference play.
Gillahan was named the Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week on 10/8, joining teammate Ella Zimmerman (who was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on 8/28) as Cyclones who earned conference weekly honors.
- 2024 was the first year since 2020 that multiple Cyclones earned weekly awards.
In the team's second-ever "no-contest" against UCF, lightning caused a stoppage in play in the 67th minute at 7:35 p.m. In the only other no-contest, against Oklahoma State in 2021, lightning also disrupted play in the 67th minute at exactly 7:35 p.m.
First-year transfers played a big role for the Cyclones in 2024, as three of the top six leaders in minutes played were in their first season in Ames.
For just the 16^th time in school history, ISU scored at least six goals in a match, as the Cyclones dropped six scores on UNI early in the season.
- It was the most goals scored in an individual game since 2012, when ISU again scored seven goals against UNI.
- The team also posted its most assists in a game (6) since 2014 against the Panthers.
Iowa State head coach Matt Fannon earned his 100th career win as a collegiate head coach this season in the win against UNI on 8/25.
11 athletes notched goals for the Cyclones this season.
- The last time Iowa State had double-digit goal scorers was in 2016.
Injuries were a lingering theme for the Cyclones, as projected starters Olivia Edwards, Jocelyn Bice and Avery Horner missed the entire season.
- Starters Hannah Shaw and Regan John missed a combined 22 matches as well.
It was the second year the Big 12 expanded, adding Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Arizona State. Iowa State went 0-1-1 against the new schools, falling to Colorado and tying Utah.

Player Notables

Avery Gillahan fell one shutout shy of earning a top-five season shutout total in school history.
- Gillahan played a team-high 1,600 minutes, missing just 20 minutes of play.
- Gillahan was 39th nationally in saves per game with 5.33. She also ranked 34th nationally in total saves with 96.
Morgan Furmaniak finished her career with 16 goals, scoring four in her senior campaign to lead the team.
After missing all of last season with injury, Magdalene Keck was a revelation for the Cyclones this past year.
- Keck led the team in points (9) and assists (3) while also finishing second in goals score (3).
- Keck was tied for first nationally on penalty kick conversion, going 1-1 in her lone attempt this year.
For the first time since 2018, five different Cyclones notched multiple goals scored. Furmaniak (4), Keck (3), Lauren McConnell (2), Hannah Shaw (2) and Sophia Thomas (2) represented Cyclones with multiple scores.
Just two athletes started every game for the Cyclones this season: Lauren Hernandez and Avery Gillahan.

Awards
Morgan Furmaniak

CSC Academic All-District Team

Avery Gillahan

CSC Academic All-District Team
Big 12 Student-Athlete of the Month (Sept.)
Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week (10/9)

Lauren Hernandez

CSC Academic All-District Team

Magdalena Keck

CSC Academic All-District Team

Leia Khairy

CSC Academic All-District Team

Yira Yoggerst

CSC Academic All-District Team

Ella Zimmerman

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (8/28)

Rankings

Iowa State ranked 219 in the RPI after the season ended.
The Cyclones finished tied for 13th in the conference.
The Cyclones were fifth in the Big 12 in saves (100) and were fourth in the conference in saves per match (5.56).
- ISU was 51st nationally in saves per game.
ISU led the conference in yellow cards (32) and was second in the nation.
- Isabella Agrusso registered the fourth most in the nation (7), while Keck earned the 59th most (4).

Players Mentioned

Isabella Agrusso

Jocelyn Bice

Olivia Edwards

Morgan Furmaniak

Avery Gillahan

Lauren Hernandez

Avery Horner

Regan John

Magdalena Keck

Leia Khairy

Lauren McConnell

Hannah Shaw

Sophia Thomas

Yira Yoggerst

Ella Zimmerman

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics