PRIMER: Iowa State vs. Texas Tech

Who: Iowa State (4-2-2, 1-1-0 Big 12) vs. Texas Tech (7-1-1, 1-0-1 Big 12)

Where: Cyclone Soccer Complex (1,500) – Ames, Iowa

When: September 28 – 1 p.m. CT

Kicking Off
Iowa State will look to bounce back from its first conference setback at Colorado this Sunday when it hosts Texas Tech. Through four home games, the Cyclones are unbeaten at 2-0-2. That is the best home four-game stretch to start a season since 2022, when the team also started 2-0-2 at home.

For the first time under Coach Fannon, Iowa State allowed a hat trick last time out, as the nation's leading goal-scorer, Hope Leyba, secured her second hat trick of the season. For ISU, Leyba was the first opponent to score three goals since Grace Yochum of Oklahoma State in 2019.

Texas Tech enters Ames coming off a gritty 1-1 draw against Houston at home. The Red Raiders trailed 1-0 until late, earning a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. Converting on PK, TTU was able to pull even and come away with a point and placing itself in a five-way tie for second place in the conference two matches in.

As a reminder, admission to the Cyclone Soccer Complex is FREE.

From the Notebook

The Cyclones scored four second-half goals against UNI on Sept. 11 – the most second-half goals by a Cyclone team since 2012 against South Dakota.
- ISU's back-to-back four-plus goal outings were the first since 1999.
ISU downed UND 4-0, scoring four or more goals in a contest for just the third time since 2013 and earning the first home win of the season.
Against Drake, Lucy Froitzheim netted an equalizer with 30 seconds left on the clock. Her goal was the latest game-tying score in program history.
ISU earned its 200th program win over Creighton on Aug. 21, downing the Bluejays 1-nil. Isabella Agrusso scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute – the latest Cyclone goal since Courtney Powell against Kansas in 2020.
- Agrusso's game-winner, with 88:41 on the clock, was the eighth-latest game-winning goal (in regulation) in program history.
Iowa State's streak of three straight results to start the year was the longest since 2022. The Cyclones earned a result for the third consecutive season in both their season opener and road opener this season.
- Iowa State's three-game unbeaten streak to start the season was the longest stretch to start a year since 2013.
Ten Cyclones have registered points so far in 2025. ISU has now had at least ten point scorers in each of the last three seasons.
Iowa State was picked to finish 14th in the Big 12 preseason poll. Iowa State has outperformed its expected finish in each of the last two seasons.
With the Big 12 trimming the number of teams that make the Big 12 Championship (from 12 to eight), ISU has its work cut out for itself as it tries to punch a ticket to Texas. The Cyclones will aim to return to the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 2021.
Iowa State earned six draws (four in conference play) last season, setting a school record for most in a single season.

Leading the Cyclones
Iowa State's attack is led by center back Ella Zimmerman and midfielder Morgan Goodman, each of whom has three goals on the year to lead the team. Goodman leads the team with seven points, owning one assist.

Taylor Spitzer is the lone other Cyclone to have multiple (2) goals scored this season. Overall, nine Cyclones have recorded goals and nine Cyclones have recorded assists.

Between the pipes, Kasey Cannistraro has been solid, starting all eight contests for the Cyclones while allowing eight goals. Cannistraro has a pair of clean sheets and a combined shutout to her name, as she has tallied 31 saves this season.

Overall, the Cyclones have 14 goals this season and have allowed eight scores. The team has 89 total shots, averaging 11.1 per contest, and places 52.8% of them on goal.

Opponent Outlook
Texas Tech's attack is spearheaded by junior forward Taylor Zdrojewski who has a team-high seven goals and 16 points. Zdrojewski has three game-winners and two assists and has scored the third-most goals of any player in the Big 12.

Macy Blackburn and Peyton Parsons are also major players in TTU's attack, as Blackburn leads the team in assists with eight, while Parsons is second in goals scored with four. Both Blackburn (12) and Parsons (10) join Zdrojewski as double figure point scorers.

2024 Big 12 First Team keeper Faith Nguyen has helped anchor a solid defense, as she has only allowed six goals on the season. Nguyen holds a 0.67 goals-against average and has tallied 26 saves on the year.

Overall, Texas Tech has 18 goals this season and has allowed just six scores. The team has 159 total shots, averaging 17.7 per contest, and places 39% of them on goal.

Series History
Iowa State and Texas Tech will be meeting for the 30th time on Sunday – a series that has pitted the team against each other in all 30 years of the Cyclone soccer program's existence. TTU leads the all-time series, 17-11-1, and hasn't lost to Iowa State since 2011. In the last 13 meetings, ISU has scored just five goals.

Up Next
The Cyclones will hit the road for a two-pat Texas trip, facing both Baylor and TCU. ISU's southward swing begins next Thursday, Oct. 2, when it faces Baylor in Waco to kick off October. The Bears and Cyclones will face off at 7 pm and the contest will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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Players Mentioned

Isabella Agrusso

Kasey Cannistraro

Lucy Froitzheim

Morgan Goodman

Taylor Spitzer

Ella Zimmerman

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics