AMES — Iowa State Cyclone soccer turned up the pressure after a sluggish start Thursday night and blanked Missouri State 2-0 to close out a four-game homestand with another shutout victory.
The Cyclones improved to 4-2-1 on the season and recorded their fifth clean sheet in seven matches.
Missouri State controlled much of the opening 20 minutes, but Iowa State gradually seized control and dominated much of the remaining action.
After the teams went into halftime scoreless, Alaina Villa broke through in the 64th minute. Villa fired a shot from the right side that sailed just beyond goalkeeper Kate Lewis to put Iowa State ahead 1-0.
The goal was Villa’s second of the season, with Erin Hopewell picking up the assist.
Iowa State protected the lead until Megan Walters delivered the knockout blow late.
A Missouri State goal kick in the 87th minute fell short of midfield and found Walters, who collected the ball, worked her way through the Bears’ defense and fired an unassisted goal past Lewis.
The score was Walters’ second of the season and gave the Cyclones a 2-0 cushion.
Iowa State finished with a 20-12 advantage in shots after firing 13 attempts during the second half. The Cyclones also controlled the corner-kick battle 8-2.
Goalkeeper Eme McClenahan made three saves while recording her third individual clean sheet of the season. She has also been part of two combined shutouts.
Missouri State managed only three shots on goal.
The Cyclones have now won all four games in which they have scored this season and have pushed their overall goal differential to plus-eight.
Villa and Walters also became the first Iowa State players this season to score multiple goals.
Missouri State had the better of the early opportunities, producing six shots during the first 25 minutes.
Iowa State’s best first-half chance came in the 38th minute when Regan John sent a shot across the box toward the far corner, but Lewis made the save to keep the match scoreless.
The Bears held an 8-7 edge in shots at halftime, but Iowa State came out aggressively after the break and produced six shots during the opening 20 minutes of the second half before Villa finally broke the deadlock.
From there, the Cyclone defense shut the door.
Iowa State now heads east for its final non-conference match of the season, traveling to Baltimore to face Loyola Maryland on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.