Ames Today

Iowa State University’s women’s soccer team will begin its 2025-26 season on August 14, facing Portland State at the Cyclone Soccer Complex in Ames, Iowa. The match marks the official start of the athletics calendar for Iowa State.

Head coach Matt Fannon leads the Cyclones into their 30th season as they seek their 200th program victory. The team is coming off a 2024 campaign in which it recorded six draws, setting a school record for most in a single season. Four of those draws and shutouts came during Big 12 play, also establishing new program records.

The Cyclones return 11 athletes from last year and have added 15 newcomers to the roster, including five freshmen and ten transfers. Iowa State aims to qualify for the Big 12 Championship this year.

Portland State enters with a previous season record of four wins, nine losses, and five draws. The Vikings were selected to finish eighth in the Big Sky Conference preseason poll and had two players—forward Aliayha Saldana and defender Liv Frazier—named to the preseason all-conference team.

Admission to Thursday’s match at Cyclone Soccer Complex is free.

According to team notes, Iowa State lost much of its scoring from last year: only five current players have scored goals as Cyclones. Fifteen players departed from last year's roster, including the top three point-scorers. The squad will attempt to win its home opener for a fourth consecutive season.

Key returning players include Lauren Hernandez, Isabella Agrusso, and Ella Zimmerman—all among last season's leaders in minutes played—as well as Ella Ciardullo and Chloe Broughton who both started double-digit matches. Last year's leading goal scorer Morgan Furmaniak and assists leader Magdalena Keck have graduated.

This season brings competition at goalkeeper between Kasey Cannistraro and Musuai Isaia after former starter Jordan Silkowitz left the program.

Portland State starts its campaign with a series of games in the Midwest before returning west. The Vikings bring back 21 players from last year’s roster but must replace primary goalkeeper Eden Millan; Natalie Cunningham is expected to compete with Finley Crabtree and Riley Hodson for that role.

Senior defender Liv Frazier was named All-Big Sky First Team last season—the first Viking since 2016 to earn that honor—while sophomore forward Ailayna Saldana was recognized as Freshman of the Year and named All-Big Sky Second Team.

Iowa State holds a one-game advantage over Portland State after winning their only prior meeting in 2023 by a score of 2-0 with Mira Emma scoring both goals.

The Cyclones’ next match will be against Creighton on August 21 in Omaha; that game will be streamed live on ESPN+.