AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State soccer team had the edge on nearly every statistical category Friday evening against Iowa in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup, but the Hawkeyes had the advantage on the most important column, the score line. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cyclones 3-1 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 1,451, eclipsing the previous high of 1,076.
Iowa State (3-2 overall, 0-0 Big 12 Conference) fired 19 shots to Iowa’s 13 and also edged the Hawkeyes on corner kicks (5-1). The two teams were nearly identical in shots on goal, with Iowa narrowly edging the Cyclones 8-7.
A late goal by junior midfielder Emily Goldstein provided the Cyclones with hopes of a rally. Goldstein hit a low shot from nearly 25 yards out of Iowa’s goal at the 86:47 mark. Goldstein’s shot gave Iowa goalkeeper Meg Goodson fits, and the Hawkeye was unable to keep it out of her own net.
Goldstein’s goal was not enough to overcome the three-goal hole the Cyclones dug themselves in the in-state rivalry matchup. The Hawkeyes jumped to the lead 23:18 into the contest when Katie Nesenbenny scored from short range off an assist from Cloe Lacasse.
Iowa (5-0) doubled its lead just over four minutes later (27:31) when Lacasse scored her sixth goal of the young season off an assist from Ashley Catrell.
Iowa took a 2-0 lead into halftime. The Cyclones came out of the intermission determined, and fired 13 second-half shots to Iowa’s four. However, Iowa’s Brooke Backes deflated the Cyclones’ hopes for a comeback when she bundled in a goal in the 68th minute. Backes initially hit a shot off the post and won a scramble in the penalty area to put the ball over the Cyclone goal line.
Cyclone goalkeeper Maddie Jobe played the full 90 minutes and notched five saves. Jobe took the loss, and her record fell 3-2 on the season.
The Cyclones return to action Tuesday with a contest against Northern Iowa. The two teams will meet at 7 p.m. CT at the ISU Soccer Complex.
