Iowa State vs. Minnesota Exhibition Primer

Who: Iowa State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

Where: Cyclone Sports Complex – Ames, Iowa

When: August 7 – 6 p.m.

Kicking Off
Iowa State unofficially begins the 2024 campaign on Wednesday, as it is set to match up with Minnesota in an exhibition contest for the third consecutive season. Wednesday night's game is, like all regular season games, free to attend. The exhibition will not be streamed, and live stats will not be available.

The Cyclones will look to again begin the season strong, as the team started 2-0 in 2023. The Gophers enter 2024 following a 7-6-4 record in 2023 as Minnesota lost just one non-conference contest a year ago.

From the Notebook

ISU lost 15 of its 19 goals from a year ago. Only six players have scored goals in a Cyclone uniform on this year's roster.
Iowa State won its most games (6) in 2023 since 2016 as well as its most conference games (3) since 2016.
The Cyclones said goodbye to eight seniors over the summer, including program legend Mira Emma. Seven newcomers (five transfers and two freshmen) will look to help supplement last year's losses from the roster.
ISU is 2-0-3 in exhibition contests under Coach Fannon.
Iowa State's 12 regular season homer games are tied for the most in a single season in school history. The only other time ISU had 12 home games (1997), the team went 9-3.

Leading the Cyclones
The Cyclones return their top-three minutes-played athletes from last season in goalkeeper Avery Gillahan and defenders Chloe Broughton and Olivia Edwards. Midfielders Lauren Hernandez and Sophia Thomas each started double digit contests for ISU last season and also return to the fold.

Thomas, Hernandez and Edwards each had a goal for ISU last season, as well as Leia Khairy who is back for her senior season. Last year's leading goal-scorer (Salomé Prat) and leading assister (Mira Emma) each graduated.

The Cyclones welcomed a five-person transfer class this offseason, bringing in a pair of defenders and midfielders as well as one forward. Yira Yoggerst and Morgan Furmaniak both come to Ames from Weber State and will have one year remaining with the Cyclones. Furmaniak is the only current Cyclone with a multi-goal game to her name.

Also joining the Cyclones are Vanderbilt transfer Ella Zimmerman, Michigan Tech transfer Seulgi Lee and Indiana State transfer Adelaide Wolfe. Joining the group of newcomers are freshmen Makenna Marshall and Laurence Leblanc.

Goalkeeper Avery Gillahan looks to build upon her solid rookie campaign, as she was tasked last season with filling the lofty shoes of Jordan Silkowitz.

Opponent Outlook
Minnesota returns its top two point-scorers from last season in Sophia Boman and Sophia Romine. Romine led the 2023 Gophers with six goals while Boman was tied for second with five.

Boman, along with Kate Childers and Iowa native Elizabeth Overberg earned All-Big Ten honors last season. Boman was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team and Childers to the All-Freshman Team while Overberg was awarded the Sportsmanship Award.

The Gophers lost their primary goalkeeper last season and returner Camellia Xu is the only keeper on the team to play in the net for the Gophers in the past.

Series History
Iowa State and Minnesota have met three times in exhibition play over the last three seasons. The Cyclones are 1-0-1 in those contests.

Up Next
Iowa State will officially kick off its 2024 season next Thursday, August 15, against Western Illinois at the Cyclone Sports Complex. Next Thursday's season-opener is set to begin at 6 p.m., will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and is free to attend.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Chloe Broughton

Olivia Edwards

Mira Emma

Morgan Furmaniak

Avery Gillahan

Lauren Hernandez

Leia Khairy

Laurence Leblanc

Seulgi Lee

Makenna Marshall

Salomé Prat

Sophia Thomas

Adelaide Wolfe

Yira Yoggerst

Ella Zimmerman

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics