Ames Today

Iowa State University’s women’s soccer team will face No. 11 Iowa on Thursday, September 4, at the Iowa Soccer Complex in Iowa City. The match marks the opening contest of the 2025-26 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, a rivalry in which Iowa State has secured victories in three of the past four years.

The Cyclones enter the match with an unbeaten record through their first three games this season, recording one win and two draws. This start is their longest unbeaten stretch to open a season since 2013, which was also the last time they finished August without a loss.

Their most recent scheduled game was canceled, giving them ten days off before meeting the Hawkeyes. In their opener, Iowa State scored multiple goals for the third consecutive year and have shown late-game resilience by scoring both game-winning and game-tying goals in the final minute and thirty seconds of two matches—something achieved only once before in program history.

Lucy Froitzheim scored an equalizer against Drake with just 30 seconds remaining, setting a new program record for latest game-tying goal. The Cyclones also notched their 200th program win over Creighton on August 21, when Isabella Agrusso delivered a decisive goal in the 89th minute.

Lauren Hernandez and Agrusso currently lead Iowa State in scoring with three points each (one goal and one assist). Froitzheim and Morgan Goodman have contributed two points apiece. Defensively, Ella Zimmerman has played every minute so far this season, while goalkeeper Kasey Cannistraro has made 12 saves across three games—including her first career shutout versus Creighton.

Iowa’s offense features Liana Tarasco, Kenzie Roling, and Olivia Lebdaoui as top scorers with two goals each. Sofia Bush leads with three assists. The Hawkeyes have used both Taylor Kane and Fernanda Mayrink as goalkeepers; Kane has posted two shutouts.

Historically, Iowa holds a 16-8-2 advantage over Iowa State and has won four of the last five meetings between the teams. The Cyclones are seeking their first victory over a ranked opponent since 2022 and their first win at Iowa City since 2005.

Following Thursday’s matchup, Iowa State will host North Dakota at home on Sunday, September 7. That game will be streamed live on ESPN+.