Preview: Cyclones To Host Oklahoma On Thursday

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State soccer team (3-10, 0-4 Big 12) returns home this weekend for a pair of pivotal conference matches at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The Cyclones open this week's slate on Thursday at 7 p.m. vs. Oklahoma (7-5-3, 2-2-1 Big 12), followed by a noon kick-off on Sunday vs. No. 15 Oklahoma State (10-1-3, 3-1-1 Big 12). Admission is free and the match will be streamed live on Cyclones.tv.

MATCH INFO
When: Thursday, Oct. 17 – 7 p.m. CT
Where: Ames, Iowa / Cyclone Sports Complex
Watch: Cyclones.tv - LINK
Live Stats: Live stats can be found here.

CYCLONE HEADLINES
1. Oklahoma currently holds a 12-9-3 lead in the all-time series vs. Iowa State, which dates back to Sep. 20, 1996. Oklahoma State also holds a slight 11-10-2 all-time lead over the Cyclones. Iowa State came away victorious in last season's battle in Stillwater however, defeating the Cowgirls 2-0 to help clinch a spot in the 2018 Big 12 Soccer Championship.

2. The Cyclones are looking to rebound after from a trio of consecutive one-goal losses in conference play, most recently a 2-1 defeat vs. Kansas State in Manhattan. Seven of Iowa State's 10 losses this season have been by a single goal.

3. Junior Courtney Powell netted her third goal of the season, and second in as many games, on Friday vs. Kansas State. The native of La Porte City, Iowa, got on the end of a beautiful ball played in by fellow junior Kassi Ginther and buried it in the back of the net to give Iowa State a 1-0 first-half lead. Powell now leads the team in goals (3) and total points (6) this season.

4. A season-high seven Cyclones played the full 90 minutes on Friday at Kansas State, including the entire back line of Shea Sullivan, Taylor Bee, Carly Langhurst and McKenna Schultz, for the first time this season. Bee is the lone Cyclone that has played all 1,192 available minutes this season.

5. Claudia Najera, a freshman midfielder, has excelled at getting to the end line out wide to the left and sending dangerous crosses into the box. The native of St. Charles, Ill., now has a team-high three assists on the season. Najera assisted on a pair of game-winning goals by fellow freshman Mira Emma (vs. Omaha, vs. SIU Edwardsville), as well as Powell's goal vs. TCU.

6. Freshman goalkeeper Georgia Wimmer made the first start of her collegiate career vs. TCU, making six saves, and was also in goal vs. Kansas State. Following the TCU match, head coach Tony Minatta praised Wimmer, saying the freshman, "kept us in the game" during a first half in which she tallied four saves.

7. Wimmer was also a bright spot vs. Texas Tech, making four saves off the bench to help hold the Big 12's top offense scoreless in regulation. The Red Raiders entered the match averaging a league-leading 2.6 goals per match. TTU eventually broke through for a golden goal by Sierra Jones in the 108th minute. Iowa State is one of just two teams to hold TTU scoreless in regulation this season.

8. Iowa State's six shots on goal vs. West Virginia tied a season-high (vs. Omaha) and were its most ever in the eight-match series vs. West Virginia that dates back to 2012. The Cyclones had tallied six shots on goal combined in their previous five meetings vs. WVU.

9. Emma, a native of Wheaton, Ill., was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for her efforts vs. SIUE and Saint Louis. She was the first Cyclone to earn a weekly award from the conference since Klasey Medelberg was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 25, 2016.

10. The offensive prowess of Tony Minatta's freshman class has been on display early in 2019. Including ISU's two exhibition matches, freshmen have accounted for nine of Iowa State's 14 goals. Freshmen have delivered four of ISU's eight regular season goals, and account for seven of eight assists.

COMPLETE GAME NOTES
For complete game notes, click here.

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Bee

Mira Emma

Kassi Ginther

Carly Langhurst

Klasey Medelberg

Claudia Najera

Courtney Powell

McKenna Schultz

Georgia Wimmer

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics