Soccer Preps For TCU, Texas Tech At Home

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State Soccer team (2-11-2) is set for a huge weekend of Big 12 action at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The Cyclones take on TCU (10-4-1) on Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. Sunday match vs. Texas Tech (8-6-1).

Both contests will be broadcast live on Cyclones.tv. Admission is free to all home soccer matches at the Cyclone Sports Complex.

Scouting the Horned Frogs
TCU remained in the top half of the Big 12 standings with a 2-0 win over Oklahoma on Friday night. The Horned Frogs' goals came via Oklahoma natives in Yasmeen Ryan and Tara Smith. The victory also marked TCU's seventh shutout this season, including the fourth in conference play.

TCU has been one of the top teams nationally in earning corner kicks, ranking third with an average of 7.93 per game. TCU goalkeeper Katie Lund ranks second in the Big 12 with a 0.46 GAA, a mark that ranks No. 17 nationally.

Scouting the Red Raiders
Texas Tech enters this weekend with an 8-6-1 record, including a 1-4-1 mark in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders, who have lost four straight since a 1-1 tie vs. Kansas on Sept. 24, will battle No. 8 West Virginia on Thursday in Morgantown, W. Va. prior to traveling to Ames for Sunday's match.

Ally Griffin has had an outstanding freshman season for the Red Raiders. The forward from Southlake, Texas has started all 15 games for TTU this season, and leads the team in goals (5) and points (11). She has put an outstanding .511 of her shots on target.

Cyclone Soccer Headlines
-Sunday's match vs. Texas Tech will be a special day at the Cyclone Sports Complex, as Iowa State honors its four seniors in Lindsey Hendon, Sasha Stinson, Brianna Johnson and Stella Maris Strohman. All four will be honored on the field prior to the 1 p.m. kick-off.

-This weekend's games both have strong implications on Iowa State's postseason hopes. With just eight of 10 Big 12 teams set to qualify for the conference postseason tournament, the Cyclones are currently two points under the cut-off line, but the results this weekend will determine whether ISU to controls its own destiny heading into the final week of the regular season.

-The Cyclones are looking to rebound from a 4-0 loss to No. 7 West Virginia in Morgantown, WV last Friday. ISU battled the reigning Big 12 champs during the first 45 minutes and trailed just 1-0 at halftime, but the Mountaineers exploded for four goals in the second stanza to pull away.

-Strohman broke through with the first goal of her career vs. Oklahoma State. The native of Ames, Iowa, came up with the equalizer in the 29th minute off an assist from Courtney Powell. After Powell's head careened off the OU keeper's hands, Strohman sliced through the box to gather the rebound and put it in the back of the net.

-Medelberg has come on strong in the last month, scoring three of ISU's last four goals to lead all Cyclones this season. The junior forward ranks first on the team in points (6) and goals (3), and is No. 2 on the team in shots (31) and shots on goal (11). With six matches to play in the regular season, Medelberg is one goal shy of her 2016 season total of four.

-Their last time at the Cyclone Sports Complex, ISU had an 0-1-1 weekend in which they took both Oklahoma and No. 25 Oklahoma State to overtime. The Cyclones and Sooners ended their match in a 0-0 draw after 110 minutes of action, while the Cowgirls got a "golden goal" in the 97th minute to defeat ISU.

-The 0-0 tie vs. Oklahoma marked Iowa State's first Big 12 points of the season. The Cyclones' scoreless outing wasn't for lack of an offensive attack, as Iowa State out-shot OU 19-14, inlcuding a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal. Medelberg led the way, with a career-high seven shots and was a problem for the Sooner back line all night.

-No. 7 West Virginia was the fifth NSCAA top-25 opponent so far this season for the Cyclones. Iowa State has now played four teams currently in the nation's top 20 (No. 6 USC, No. 8 West Virginia, No. 10 Texas and No. 20 Florida).

-Center back Jordan Enga has helped steady an otherwise injury-riddled ISU back line this season. Enga ranks No. 1 on the team in playing time with 1,393 of 1,408 possible minutes played so far this season. She has not been subbed out of a match since Aug. 21 vs. Minnesota.

-Riley Behan, a junior defender, has started 10 matches and has seen an uptick in playing time on the back line over the past month. The native of Davenport, Iowa, also notched the first assist of her career vs. Kansas, finding Medelberg for ISU's first goal in conference play.

Follow Iowa State Soccer's Twitter account (@cycloneSCR) for live updates during the match. Results will be available on Cyclones.com after the conclusion of the game.

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Players Mentioned

Riley Behan

Jordan Enga

Lindsey Hendon

Brianna Johnson

Courtney Powell

Sasha Stinson

Stella Maris Strohman

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics