Iowa State vs. Portland State Primer

Who: Iowa State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Portland State (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky)

Where: Cyclone Soccer Complex – Ames, Iowa

When: August 14 – 6 p.m.

Kicking Off
The Iowa State athletics calendar officially gets underway this Thursday, as Matt Fannon's club opens up the 2025-26 campaign with Portland State. The Cyclone soccer program enters its 30th season and looks to earn its 200th program victory.

ISU looks to build off a 2024 season that saw the team earn six draws – the most in a single season in program history. The team also had four draws and shutouts in Big 12 play, also program records. ISU returns 11 athletes and brings in 15 newcomers (five freshmen and 10 transfers) as it aims to qualify for the Big 12 Championship.

Portland State enters 2025 coming off a 4-9-5 record in 2024. The Vikings were picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky's preseason poll, with a pair of players names to the preseason team. Both forward Aliayha Saldana and defender Liv Frazier were all-conference preseason picks, as Portland State was tied for the second most selections in the conference.

As a reminder, admission to the Cyclone Soccer Complex is FREE.

From the Notebook

ISU lost 13 of its 19 goals from a year ago. Only five players have scored goals in a Cyclone uniform on this year's roster.
Iowa State earned six draws (four in conference play) last season, setting a school record for most in a single season.
The Cyclones lost 15 players from last year's roster, including its top three point-scorers.
Iowa State will look to win its season-opener for the third consecutive season. ISU has won its home-opener in each of the last three seasons

Leading the Cyclones
The Cyclones return three of their top four minutes-played athletes from last season in Lauren Hernandez, Isabella Agrusso and Ella Zimmerman. Ella Ciardullo and Chloe Broughton each started double-digit contests for ISU last season and are also back in the fold.

Thomas (2), Broughton, Hernandez and Agrusso each had a goal for the Cyclones last season. Last year's leading goal scorer, Morgan Furmaniak, and team leader in assists, Magdalena Keck, each graduated.

For the first time since program legend Jordan Silkowitz left, ISU has a goalkeeper battle on its hands. Kasey Cannistraro and Musuai Isaia each saw action in the exhibition and will likely each see time early in the year.

Opponent Outlook
Portland State is opening its 2025 campaign with a Midwest swing, as after it takes on the Cyclones, it'll head west to Manhattan to take on fellow Big 12 school K-State. PSU looks to build upon last year's four wins with 21 returners.

Senior defender Liv Frazier was an All-Big Sky First Teamer last season – the first Viking to do so since 2016. Sophomore forward Ailayna Saldana was the league's Freshman of the Year last season and was named to the All-Big Sky Second Team.

The team lost last year's primary goalkeeper, Eden Millan, and has just one keeper who has seen minutes before on the roster in Natalie Cunningham. Cunningham will battle returners Finley Crabtree and Riley Hodson for the gig.

Series History
The Cyclones and Vikings have met just once prior, with the first-ever meeting taking place in 2023. ISU took down PSU in Portland by a score of 2-0 behind a brace from Mira Emma.

Up Next
Iowa State will be back in action next Thursday, August 21, when it heads west to take on Creighton in Omaha as part of the team's first road trip of the season. The Cyclones and Bluejays are set to square off at 6 p.m. with action being streamed live on ESPN+.

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Players Mentioned

Isabella Agrusso

Chloe Broughton

Kasey Cannistraro

Ella Ciardullo

Morgan Furmaniak

Lauren Hernandez

Musuai Isaia

Magdalena Keck

Ella Zimmerman

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