2025 Season in Review

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wrapped up its 2025 season with a 4-9-4 record and a 1-8-2 mark in Big 12 play. The Cyclones would finish 15th in league standings despite scoring their most goals since 2014.

ISU's season started strong, as the Cyclones began the year 1-0-2 through three games to mark the best start to a season since 2013. Iowa State would finish the month of August unbeaten, marking their first unbeaten month since 2013.

The Cyclones went on to finish non-conference action with a 3-1-2 record – its best non-con winning percentage (.667) since 2016. The lone loss came at No. 11 Iowa as ISU outscored its non-conference opponents 12-5.

For the second straight year, ISU started conference play strong as it won the opener against Arizona. That would be ISU's last win of the season, though, as the backstretch of conference play was loaded with tough teams. ISU lost to Colorado, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Kansas, and West Virginia – all Big 12 schools that would go on to make the NCAA Tournament. ISU collected a pair of draws in conference play against Arizona State and at Kansas State.

No. 4 TCU would win the Big 12, as it reached the College Cup semifinals. The Horned Frogs' finish was just the third time that a Big 12 school had reached the final four teams in the tournament. BYU would win the Big 12 soccer championship, taking down Kansas in the title game. In total, half the league (eight) made the postseason.

Overall, Iowa State faced seven teams that received NCAA Tournament bids (Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia and Baylor). ISU was also scheduled to play Memphis at home, a team that made the postseason, but the game was canceled due to weather in the Ames area.

Key Storylines

Iowa State scored 15 of its 20 goals in the second half of contests.
Iowa State secured its first three-match winning streak since 2016, as it downed North Dakota, UNI and Arizona in consecutive outings.
Needing to replace 68 percent of its goal-scoring from last year, Iowa State saw a trio of newcomers steady the ship and score over half the team's goals.
- Freshman Megan Walters net three scores on the year. It was the most by an ISU freshman since Hannah Cade in 2016.
- Transfer Morgan Goodman blossomed in an increased role for ISU. After playing in only four contests at Xavier, Goodman played in all 17 matches for ISU and tied for the team lead in goals with four.
- Rounding out the newcomer trio was Taylor Spitzer. Spitzer, like Goodman, tallied four scores and was tied for the team lead in points with nine.
The Cyclones strung together consecutive outings with at least four goals scores (UND & UNI) for the first time since 1999.
- All four of ISU's goals against UNI came in the second half, marking the largest second-half production by a Cyclone team since 2012.
The Cyclones opened 2025 unbeaten in their first three contests, marking the best start to a season since 2013.
- It was ISU's first three-match result streak since 2022.
ISU earned a win in its conference opener against Arizona, marking consecutive years it won its first game in Big 12 play.
- It's the first time since 2006/07 that ISU has won its conference opener in back-to-back years.
In its game against Drake, ISU scored an equalizer with 30 seconds left in the game. It was the latest game-tying goal in program history and the seventh-latest regulation score by a Cyclone.
The Cyclones earned their 200th program win at Creighton, scoring the game-winner in the 89th minute.
- It was the latest goal by a Cyclone since 2020.
- It was also the eighth-latest game-winner in school history (88:41).

Player Notables

In her first season as a full-time keeper, Cannistraro was the only Cyclone to start all 17 matches.
- She played all but 83 minutes of action, collecting 74 saves on the season. Cannistraro recorded a pair of clean sheets and a combined shutout.
Ella Zimmerman recorded a personal best of three goals in 2025, all coming off of set pieces.
- Led ISU in goals scored as a center back for the majority of the season and registered the team's only (and her first career) multi-goal performance.
Megan Walters was a revelation in Big 12 play, as the rookie scored all three of her goals against conference foes.
- Her three conference goals were the most of any Cyclone.
- Her three goals as a freshman were the most by a first-year Cyclone since 2016 (Hannah Cade).
Taylor Spitzer concluded her collegiate career by tying for the team lead in goals (4) and points (9) during her lone season in Ames.
- She finishes her career with 19 goals, 10 assists and 48 total points.
After appearing in just four matches with Xavier as a freshman, Morgan Goodman broke out in her first year as a Cyclone.
- She was tied for the team lead in goals with four goals and nine points.

Awards

Isabella Agrusso

CSC Academic All-District Team

Chloe Broughton

CSC Academic All-District Team

Ella Ciardullo

CSC Academic All-District Team

Lauren Hernandez

CSC Academic All-District Team

Regan John

CSC Academic All-District Team

Ella Zimmerman

CSC Academic All-District Team

Rankings

Iowa State ranked 139 in the RPI after the season ended.
- That's the highest end-of-season RPI ranking in program history.
The Cyclones finished 15th in the conference.
- ISU ranked third in the Big 12 both in saves per game (4.71) and shot accuracy (.460).
  - Both ranked top 150 nationally.
Taylor Spitzer converted her lone PK of the season, tying her for the best conversion percentage in the country.

Players Mentioned

Isabella Agrusso

Chloe Broughton

Ella Ciardullo

Morgan Goodman

Lauren Hernandez

Regan John

Taylor Spitzer

Megan Walters

Ella Zimmerman

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics