Spitzer’s Late Score Leads to Home Finale Draw

AMES, Iowa – In the final contest from the Cyclone Soccer Complex this fall, Iowa State (4-7-3, 1-6-1 Big 12) battled back from a 1-0 deficit to earn a 1-1 draw against Arizona State (9-4-3, 2-4-2 Big 12) on Sunday afternoon.

After falling down 1-nil in the 68th minute, ISU battled throughout looking for an opportunity to break through and equalize. The Cyclones found that opportunity in the 85th minute as an Isabella Agrusso ball made it past the ASU backline and right to Taylor Spitzer, who needed no touch to net her third score of the season and tie things up. Spitzer's goal marked the fifth time this season that ISU scored in the 80th minute or later.

Spitzer took two shots on the day, placing both on target and scoring the team's lone goal. Both Megan Walters and Lucy Froitzheim were tied for a game-high with three shots apiece. Agrusso, Zimmerman and Broughton played the full 90 in the field for ISU, while Kasey Cannistraro did the same between the pipes. Cannistraro finished the contest with four saves.

For the Sun Devils, Lucy Fazackerley had the team's goal, converting off a corner kick feed from Addison Baltodano. Tatum Thomason, Sierra Bergen and Baltodano were tied for a game-high three shots. ASU keeper Pauline Nelles also had four saves on the day.

The Cyclones and Sun Devils were even across the board in shots (12 each) and saves (four each), while ASU held the advantage in corner kicks (7-3) and fouled more (11-9).\

How it Happened
Things started slowly Sunday, as the wind played a major factor in the teams getting a feel for things out of the gate. ASU took the game's first shot in the eighth tick, but saw the shot go astray into the wind.

The Cyclones had a great opportunity to strike first in the 13th minute, as a rapid succession of three shots got blocked and ISU was turned away. ISU saw another flurry of opportunities in the 26th minute, as the Cyclones kept action near the ASU box and fired off three more attempts over a three-minute span – seeing two saved and one hitting the crossbar.

The two teams would head into the break knotted at zero and ISU set to face the wind in the second stanza. At the break, the Cyclones had more shots (9-4) and corners (3-2), while the Sun Devils had more saves (3-2).

The aggression flipped in the second half, as ASU used the wind at its back to fuel its attacks. A pair of early attempts were turned away by the Cyclones, but a corner set piece in the 68th minute got the job done for the Sun Devils. A service from Baltodano found the head of Fazackerley, who knocked one in and put ASU on top.

Now down one and heading into the strong gusts, ISU had its work cut out. ISU was limited to just three shots in the second half and took its second attempt in the 81st minute. ISU's third and final shot of the half was its best, as a deep feed from Agrusso was misplayed and fell right into the lap of Spitzer. Spitzer needed no touch and sent the ball perfectly into the back of the net to tie things up at one apiece.

The Cyclones would handle a pair of Sun Devil attempts in the final five minutes to walk away from the CSC with a draw in the home finale.

Fannon's Thoughts
"Today was another game that we could have won. We created the chances, and we hit the crossbar twice more, which seems to be the bane of our existence right now. Six in two games is tough to deal with. I was disappointed with the goal we conceded, but despite that, I was happy with our resiliency that we didn't roll over in that moment."

Goals
Iowa State: Taylor Spitzer – 84:28 (3)
Arizona State: Lucy Fazackerley – 67:34 (3)

Assists
Iowa State: Isabela Agrusso (2)
Arizona State: Addison Baltodano (5)

Up Next
Iowa State will head out to Morgantown, W. Va., for the first part of a three-game road trip next Thursday to take on the Mountaineers. ISU and WVU will meet on Oct. 23 at 6 pm and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Spitzer’s Late Score Leads to Home Finale Draw

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Team Stats

Taylor Spitzer

Isabella Agrusso

Megan Walters

Lucy Froitzheim

Players Mentioned

Isabella Agrusso

Kasey Cannistraro

Lucy Froitzheim

Taylor Spitzer

Megan Walters

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Spitzer’s Late Score Leads to Home Finale Draw

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Taylor Spitzer

Isabella Agrusso

Megan Walters

Lucy Froitzheim

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Isabella Agrusso

Kasey Cannistraro

Lucy Froitzheim

Taylor Spitzer

Megan Walters

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