Iowa State vs. No. 8 TCU Primer

Who: Iowa State (3-8-5, 1-4-3 Big 12) vs. No. 8 TCU (12-2-2, 7-0-2 Big 12)

Where: Cyclone Soccer Complex – Ames, Iowa

When: October 20 – 1 p.m.

Kicking Off
Following a two-game road stint, the Cyclones return to the Cyclone Soccer Complex to take on top-10-ranked TCU. Sunday's match will feature the Cyclones wearing pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as ISU will look to earn its largest upset ever as well as win No. 200.

With the season winding down, the Cyclones look to earn valuable points in the Big 12 standings as the team currently sits 13th. With 12 members making the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City, ISU will need to leap one school in front of it to extend the season.

Eighth-ranked TCU comes to Ames looking to continue its solid season and continue its pace for a Big 12 regular season championship. The Horned Frogs haven't lost in conference play and are currently knotted with Texas Tech for the top spot in the league.

From the Notebook

In 16 halves of conference play, the Cyclones have recorded 11 shutout stanzas. In the five halves that opponents have scored, they've totaled 9 goals.
For the first time since 2018, an ISU keeper recorded consecutive clean sheets, as Avery Gillahan blanked both K-State and Cincinnati. She has five shutouts on the season and four in conference play. One more clean sheet would push Gillahan into a top-5 season in school history.
Gillahan was named the Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week on 10/8, joining Ella Zimmerman as Cyclones who have won PotW awards this season. It's the first time since 2020 that two Cyclones earned weekly honors.
The Cyclones have earned five draws this season, tying the school benchmark for most in a year. The team's three conference draws are the most ever in a single season.
The Cyclones will play their fifth ranked team of the season on Sunday, marking the first time since 2019 they've played at least five ranked squads.
In its no contest against UCF, lightning caused a stoppage in the 67th minute at 7:35 p.m. In ISU's last no contest, in 2021 against Oklahoma State, lightning also stopped play in the 67th minute at 7:35 p.m.
For the first time since 2016, Iowa State opened Big 12 conference play with a win, defeating Kansas 1-0 in Lawrence. It was the second straight year ISU beat KU 1-0.
First-year transfers have had a big role for ISU this season, as three of the top six leaders in minutes played are in their first year in Ames.
Ten ISU athletes have scored this season. It's the first time since 2016 that double-digit Cyclone has recorded goals in a season.
Injuries have played a part all season for the Cyclones. Olivia Edwards, Jocelyn Bice and Avery Horner have been held out of all 16 games, while both Hannah Shaw and Regan John are likely to miss the rest of the season.
ISU's six goals against UNI were its most since 2012, when it put seven on the board against UNI, winning 7-1. The team also posted its most assists in a single game since 2014.
Iowa State head coach Matt Fannon earned career win number 100 against UNI on 8/25.
For just the 16th time in 533 outings, Iowa State scored 6+ goals in a match against UNI to close out August.

Leading the Cyclones
Through 16 contests, Iowa State totes 10 goal-scorers, with seniors Morgan Furmaniak (4) and Magdalena Keck (3) leading the way. Keck has a team-high nine points, pairing three assists with her trio of scores.

Both Hannah Shaw and Sophia Thomas each have a pair of goals, rounding out the Cyclones with multiple scores on the season. Defenders Ella Zimmerman, Isabella Agrusso, Adelaide Wolfe and Chloe Broughton all also have goals to their names, along with midfielders Seulgi Lee and Lauren McConnell.

Avery Gillahan has been a constant for the Cyclones between the pipes this season, having played 1,420 minutes of action. Gilly has five shutouts on the year with 84 saves and a 1.46 goals-against average. Avery is second in saves in the Big 12, trailing just K-State's Murphy Sheaff.

Opponent Outlook
TCU is the top-scoring team in the Big 12 and boasts three players who have at least eight goals in the season. Seven Castain (10) and Caroline Kelly (9) lead the team in goals, and each have a Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week award to their names. Bella Diorio has eight scores, along with three assists. In total, 11 Horned Frogs have scored this season.

TCU is just behind Oklahoma State, Iowa State's previous opponent, in scoring margin as the Horned Frogs are plus-27 on the year. In fact, Castain, Kelly and Diorio are all in the conference's top five goal scorers. TCU has split its keeper duties between Olivia Geller and Megan Plaschko, who have combined for six shutouts and total a 0.95 goals-against average.

Overall, the Horned Frogs have allowed 15 goals and have scored 42 times. The team has 293 shots, averaging 18.3 per contest, and places 39.9% of them on goal.

Series History
The Cyclones and Horned Frogs will meet for the 14th time on Sunday, as part of a series that TCU holds the all-time advantage in, 8-2-3. Last season was the first time since TCU had joined the conference that the two teams did not meet.

Up Next
Iowa State will return to the Cyclone Sports Complex for the final time in 2024 next Friday, as they are set to host the Baylor Bears in the regular season finale. Next Friday's match is set to begin at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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Players Mentioned

Isabella Agrusso

Jocelyn Bice

Chloe Broughton

Olivia Edwards

Morgan Furmaniak

Avery Gillahan

Avery Horner

Regan John

Magdalena Keck

Seulgi Lee

Lauren McConnell

Hannah Shaw

Sophia Thomas

Adelaide Wolfe

Ella Zimmerman

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Iowa State University Athletics