Ames Today

Iowa State University's women's soccer team is preparing to face the University of Houston in a Big 12 Conference match at the Cyclone Soccer Complex in Ames, Iowa, on October 16 at 6 p.m. CT. The Cyclones currently hold a record of 4-6-2 overall and 1-5-0 in conference play, while Houston stands at 6-3-4 overall and 1-3-2 in the Big 12.

Despite achieving the highest RPI in program history at 82, Iowa State has lost its last five matches. These defeats have come against teams ranked among the top six in the conference standings, with four opponents appearing in this week's national poll. In their most recent game, Iowa State fell to Kansas by a score of 3-1 after taking an early lead with a goal from freshman Megan Walters.

Houston has also struggled recently and has not secured a win since September 18 but managed two draws over its last five games.

Thursday night's contest will be designated as a "Pink Out" game to raise awareness for breast cancer. Fans attending are encouraged to wear pink, and admission remains free for all attendees.

The Cyclones' season highlights include scoring four second-half goals against UNI on September 11—the most since 2012—and achieving back-to-back games with four or more goals for the first time since 1999. Iowa State also recorded its first home win of the season against North Dakota with a 4-0 victory and earned its milestone 200th program win over Creighton on August 21 thanks to Isabella Agrusso's late goal.

Ten different players have registered points this season for Iowa State. Center back Ella Zimmerman and midfielder Morgan Goodman lead the team with three goals each; Goodman also leads in total points with seven. Other notable contributors include Taylor Spitzer, Megan Walters, and Sophie Forrester—all with two goals—while Ella Ciardullo tops assists with two.

Goalkeeper Kasey Cannistraro has started every match for Iowa State this year, conceding nineteen goals and making forty-nine saves while recording two clean sheets and one combined shutout.

On offense, Iowa State has scored sixteen goals from one hundred fifteen shots (averaging nearly ten per game), placing just under half on target.

Houston's attack features balanced scoring from seven players who have multiple goals this season. Samira Minor leads Houston both in goals (five) and assists (three). Kyrsten Kizer and Cameryn Maddox share the team lead in assists (three each), while Maddox is tied for second-most points alongside Adelhia Ghonda.

In goalkeeping duties, Lexi Gonzalez has started seven matches for Houston while Maggie Manning has started six; both keepers maintain a goals-against average below one goal per game. Combined they have made twenty-nine saves so far this season.

Houston’s offensive production totals thirty goals from two hundred twenty-eight shots (an average of seventeen-and-a-half per game), placing fifty percent on target; defensively they have allowed only nine scores all year.

This meeting marks only the second-ever matchup between Iowa State and Houston after their inaugural contest last year when ISU won 2-1 following a late goal by Salomé Prat.

Following Thursday’s game against Houston, Iowa State will host Arizona State on Sunday, October 19 at 1 p.m., which will be streamed live on ESPN+.