AMES — Iowa State soccer finally broke into the Big 12 points column Thursday night, battling back from an early deficit and earning a 1-1 draw against Utah at the Cyclone Soccer Complex.
The Cyclones moved to 4-5-3 overall and 0-2-1 in Big 12 play, while Utah moved to 4-5-3 overall and 1-2-1 in the conference.
Iowa State had to weather heavy Utah pressure throughout the match, with the Utes holding a 19-8 advantage in shots, but a second-half free-kick strike from Breezie Brewer and a determined defensive effort allowed the Cyclones to salvage their first conference point of the season.
The teams have now played to draws in consecutive seasons.
Utah strikes first
Utah controlled much of the opening half and generated the first serious pressure of the night.
After firing the match’s first shot in the 10th minute and producing several more attempts in quick succession, the Utes finally broke through at the 15:16 mark.
Shannon Davidson scored her third goal of the season off assists from Sophie Bellini and Reese Clem, putting Utah ahead 1-0.
The Utes continued attacking after the goal and kept Iowa State pinned down for much of the half.
By halftime, Utah held an 8-3 advantage in shots and a 3-0 edge in corner kicks.
Brewer delivers the equalizer
Iowa State came out with a different look after halftime.
After surviving an early Utah shot, the Cyclones pushed forward and earned a free kick when Allison Charleston was fouled about 10 yards outside the penalty area.
Brewer stepped up and made Utah pay.
The Alabama transfer bent her free kick toward the center of the goal, catching Utah goalkeeper Anna Solomon off balance and finding the net at 49:24 to tie the match at 1-1.
It was Brewer’s first goal as a Cyclone.
Cyclones withstand Utah pressure
Utah responded aggressively after surrendering the equalizer.
The Utes unleashed four shots over the following eight minutes, but Iowa State’s defense blocked two attempts, goalkeeper Avery McClenahan stopped another and the fourth went wide.
Utah continued to create chances throughout the half, but the Cyclones refused to break.
McClenahan, facing her former team, finished with three saves while playing all 90 minutes.
Makenna Marshall, Danica Lunceford and Erin Hopewell also went the full 90 minutes on Iowa State’s back line.
Utah goalkeeper Solomon recorded four saves.
Forrester leads Cyclone attack
Sophie Forrester led Iowa State with three shots, putting one on goal during 53 minutes of action.
Brewer made her lone attempt count with the second-half equalizer.
Davidson and Bellini each registered six shots for Utah as the Utes finished with 19 total attempts compared with eight for Iowa State.
Utah also held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Despite the statistical edge, Iowa State did enough defensively to keep Utah off the scoreboard for the final 74-plus minutes.
The draw gives the Cyclones something to build on after opening Big 12 play with losses to Colorado and Houston before falling 2-0 to No. 10 West Virginia.
Three-game road swing awaits
Iowa State will now leave Ames for three consecutive Big 12 road matches.
The Cyclones will travel to Tempe to face Arizona State on Thursday, October 8, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. Central and coverage available on ESPN+.
Iowa State will then visit Arizona on October 11 and Kansas on October 16 before returning home to face Kansas State on October 22.
The Cyclones enter that road stretch still searching for their first Big 12 victory, but Thursday’s comeback against Utah finally put their first conference point on the board.