PRIMER: Iowa State at No. 20 Baylor

Who: Iowa State (4-3-2, 1-2-0 Big 12) at Baylor (7-1-2, 2-1-0 Big 12)

Where: Betty Lou Mays Field (3,000) – Waco, Texas

When: October 2 – 7 p.m. CT

Kicking Off
The Cyclones will look to snap a two-game skid and open the month of October with a win, as they head south for the first leg of a two-part Texas trip. The Cyclones will face Baylor in their second ranked matchup of the season in search of their first win over a ranked team since 2022.

After opening conference play with a win over Arizona, ISU has dropped back-to-back contests against two of the top three teams in the league in TTU and Colorado. By the end of the week, ISU will have played all five of the top Big 12 programs (through three games).

Baylor comes into Thursday's matchup fresh off receiving its first top 25 ranking of the season. The Bears swept the Sunflower State schools last week, downing both No. 14 Kansas and K-State. The Baylor defense allowed just two goals scored in the month of September.

From the Notebook

The Cyclones scored four second-half goals against UNI on Sept. 11 – the most second-half goals by a Cyclone team since 2012 against South Dakota.
- ISU's back-to-back four-plus goal outings were the first since 1999.
ISU downed UND 4-0, scoring four or more goals in a contest for just the third time since 2013 and earning the first home win of the season.
Against Drake, Lucy Froitzheim netted an equalizer with 30 seconds left on the clock. Her goal was the latest game-tying score in program history.
ISU earned its 200th program win over Creighton on Aug. 21, downing the Bluejays 1-nil. Isabella Agrusso scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute – the latest Cyclone goal since Courtney Powell against Kansas in 2020.
- Agrusso's game-winner, with 88:41 on the clock, was the eighth-latest game-winning goal (in regulation) in program history.
Iowa State's streak of three straight results to start the year was the longest since 2022. The Cyclones earned a result for the third consecutive season in both their season opener and road opener this season.
- Iowa State's three-game unbeaten streak to start the season was the longest stretch to start a year since 2013.
Ten Cyclones have registered points so far in 2025. ISU has now had at least ten point scorers in each of the last three seasons.
Iowa State was picked to finish 14th in the Big 12 preseason poll. Iowa State has outperformed its expected finish in each of the last two seasons.
With the Big 12 trimming the number of teams that make the Big 12 Championship (from 12 to eight), ISU has its work cut out for itself as it tries to punch a ticket to Texas. The Cyclones will aim to return to the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 2021.
Iowa State earned six draws (four in conference play) last season, setting a school record for most in a single season.

Leading the Cyclones
Iowa State's attack is led by center back Ella Zimmerman and midfielder Morgan Goodman, each of whom has three goals on the year to lead the team. Goodman leads the team with seven points, owning one assist.

Taylor Spitzer is the lone other Cyclone to have multiple (2) goals scored this season. Overall, nine Cyclones have recorded goals and nine Cyclones have recorded assists.

Between the pipes, Kasey Cannistraro has been consistent, starting all nine contests for the Cyclones while allowing 10 goals. Cannistraro has a pair of clean sheets and a combined shutout to her name, as she has tallied 34 saves this season.

Overall, the Cyclones have 14 goals this season and have allowed ten scores. The team has 98 total shots, averaging 10.9 per contest, and places 50% of them on goal.

Opponent Outlook
The Bears are led by senior forward Tyler Isgrig who has a team-high five goals on the season. Isgrig, a preseason All-Big 12 Team member, is also tied for second on the team in assists with two and has 12 total points.

Joining Isgrig as multi-goal scorers for the Bears are Aryanna Jimison, Alysiah Lockette and Olivia Hess who each have two goals apiece. Jimison holds a team-high three assists, giving her the second-most points on the squad with seven.

Azul Alvarez has been stellar for Baylor throughout the first half of the season. Alvarez, with help from the Bear backline, has conceded just three goals through ten outings. Her 33 saves place her top five in the conference.

Overall, Baylor has 18 goals this season and has allowed just three scores. The team has 166 total shots, averaging 16.6 per contest, and places 42.2% of them on goal.

Series History
The Cyclones and Bears will meet for a program-leading 33rd time this Thursday, as Baylor is ISU's most-played opponent. The Bears hold a 21-8-3 all-time advantage and are 11-2-2 in Waco. ISU will look to win in Waco for the first time since 2016.

Up Next
ISU wraps up its Texas trip this Sunday, Oct. 5, when they travel up I-35 to take on No. 7 TCU in Fort Worth. The Cyclones and Horned Frogs are set to kick off at 1 pm and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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Players Mentioned

Isabella Agrusso

Kasey Cannistraro

Lucy Froitzheim

Morgan Goodman

Taylor Spitzer

Ella Zimmerman

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics