Cyclones Start 2025 with Draw Against PSU

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State and Portland State played to a 2-2 draw Thursday evening at the Cyclone Soccer Complex in each team's 2025 season opener.

The Cyclones (0-0-1) fell behind one-nil early but scored two unanswered goals to take a 2-1 advantage. They'd hold that edge until the 82nd minute when the Vikings (0-0-1) snuck a ball into the back left of the net to knot things up.

Portland State's Aliayha Saldana got the scoring started with a goal from roughly 30 feet out to put the Vikings up 1-0. Lauren Hernandez and Morgan Goodman scored both goals in ISU's 2-0 run to take the 2-1 lead. Kalo Iongi found the equalizer in the final ten minutes off a feed from Carmen Lewis to push the game to 2-2.

Goodman and Ella Zimmerman led the Cyclones in shots with three apiece, while Megan Walters and Regan John collected assists. Zimmerman, Lucy Froitzheim, Hernandez and John played the full 90 for the Cyclones, while Taylor Spitzer led the team in minutes off the bench (57). Kasey Cannistraro made her first start in the net for the Cyclones on the night, collecting one save.

Portland State's Kamaria Hughes led the team in shots with three, while three Vikings followed with a pair apiece. PSU had just three shots on goal, but converted on two of them. Five Vikings went the distance, while Lewis led the team in minutes off the bench while collecting the team's only assist. Natalie Cunningham collected a pair of saves in the season opener.

ISU held a 13-12 shot advantage and also led in corners. Outpacing the Vikings 6-2. The Cyclones had just one save to Portland State's two.

How it Happened
Iowa State was the aggressors early, taking the game's first three shots. PSU's first attempt at the net didn't come until the 14th minute, but they made it count as Saldana did it herself. The reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year buried one from deep to put the Vikings on top.

After failing to convert a penalty kick in the 20th minute, ISU retained possession and got another opportunity two minute later on a corner kick. With Goodman booting it from the far side of the field into the box, Hernandez uncorked a slick backheel goal past the PSU keeper to knot things up at one-all.

A few shots by the Cyclones in the final five minutes of the stanza were blocked, and the teams went into the break tied at one apiece. The Cyclones held a 7-3 shot advantage at the break and had four corners to PSU's zero.

Iowa State came out of the break with a purpose and saw its aggression pay off early as Morgan Goodman cashed in on a perfect cross from freshman Megan Walters. For Goodman, it was her first collegiate points and goal, while for Walters it was her first career points and assist.

The Cyclones would hold that 2-1 lead until the final ten minutes when Portland State started to amp up the pressure. The Vikings eventually broke through in the 82nd minute, as Kalo Iongi sent a left-footed shot into the back of the net off a Carmen Lewis assist to tie the match at two.

The two teams would then play to a 2-2 tie.

Goals
Iowa State: Lauren Hernandez – 22' (1), Morgan Goodman – 52' (1)
Portland State: Aliayha Saldana – 14' (1), Kalo Iongi – 82' (1)

Assists
Iowa State: Regan John (1), Megan Walters (1)
Portland State: Carmen Lewis (1)

Up Next
Iowa State will be back in action next Thursday, August 21, when it hits the road for its first away contest of the season. The Cyclones will meet the Creighton Bluejays in Omaha with kickoff set for 6 p.m. Action will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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Team Stats

Morgan Goodman

Lauren Hernandez

Regan John

Megan Walters

Players Mentioned

Kasey Cannistraro

Lucy Froitzheim

Morgan Goodman

Lauren Hernandez

Regan John

Taylor Spitzer

Megan Walters

Ella Zimmerman

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics