Iowa State vs. No. 15 Memphis Primer

Who: Iowa State (1-0-2, 0-0 Big 12) vs. No. 15 Memphis (5-0-0, 0-0 AAC)

Where: Cyclone Soccer Complex 1,500) – Ames, Iowa

When: August 31 – 6 p.m.

Kicking Off
Iowa State looks to close out the month of August undefeated, as they welcome No. 15 Memphis to the Cyclone Soccer Complex. ISU will look to topple the Tigers for the first time in program history, as they are the first ranked opponent of the year for the Cyclones.

Iowa State remains unbeaten through its first three contests of the season, earning a win and a pair of draws. That's the latest a Cyclone squad has been unbeaten since 2013. August of 2013 also marks the last unbeaten month by an ISU soccer squad (3-0).

No. 15 Memphis will look to hand Iowa State its first loss of the year, as it aims for win number six. The Tigers are 1-0 on the road already this year and have a plus-16 goal differential through five contests. Memphis comes to Ames after downing No. 11 Vanderbilt and Missouri this past week.

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

From the Notebook

The Cyclones scored multiple goals in their season opener for the third straight season, notching two.
Iowa State's streak of three straight results is the longest since 2022. The Cyclones earned a result for the third consecutive season in both its season opener and road opener this season.
The Cyclones have had a flair for the dramatic early in the season, scoring both a game-winning and game-tying goal in the last minute and thirty seconds of two contests. It's just the second time in program history that an ISU season has had multiple goals in the final minute thirty (2005).
Against Drake, Lucy Froitzheim netted an equalizer with 30 seconds left on the clock. Her goal is the latest game-tying score in program history and tied for seventh-latest regulation score by a Cyclone.
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 scored with 50 seconds left against Kansas in a 1-1 draw back in March of 2020. Her game-winner, with 88:41 on the clock, was the eighth-latest game-winning goal (in regulation) in program history.
Iowa State earned six draws (four in conference play) last season, setting a school record for most in a single season.

Leading the Cyclones
Lauren Hernandez and Agrusso lead the Cyclones in scoring, as each has a goal and an assist, totaling three points each. Froitzheim and Morgan Goodman have two points apiece, each owning a goal of their own. Ella Ciardullo, Regan John and Megan Walters round out the Cyclone scorers, as each has one off an assist.

Outside of keeper, ISU's Ella Zimmerman is the only field player to not yet leave the field, as she has played all 270 minutes to date. Zimmerman, along with Goodman and M. Walters, leads the team with four shots.

Between the pipes, Kasey Cannistraro has been solid through three contests, notching 12 saves. Cannistraro recorded her first career clean sheet and win against Creighton, collecting a personal best seven saves.

Overall, the Cyclones have four goals this season and have allowed three scores. The team has 33 total shots, averaging 11 per contest, and places 45.5% of them on goal.

Opponent Outlook
Memphis's potent offense features six Tigers who already have multiple goals on the season. Leading the way is freshman forward Ellis Kelly who has five goals, averaging one per contest. Flanking Kelly is sophomore Ai Kitagawa, who has four goals of her own.

Not only does Kelly lead the team in goals, but she also leads in assists (3) and total points (13). Four other Tigers have notched a pair of assists, while nine total have scored points of some kind.

Abby Kudla has been the primary keeper for the Tigers, starting all five contests. Kudla has allowed just three goals in 360 minutes of action, collecting eight saves. Ava Galani has seen time in the net in relief, allowing no goals in 90 minutes of work and tallying a pair of saves.

Overall, Memphis has 19 goals this season and has allowed just three scores. The team has 75 total shots, averaging 15 per contest, and places 48% of them on goal.

Series History
Iowa State and Memphis have met five times prior, all coming in the last six years, with the Tigers holding a perfect 5-0 mark. Iowa State will look to snap the skid in the two sides' third meeting in Ames.

Up Next
Iowa State will be back in action next Thursday, Sept. 4, when it heads east to take on a ranked Iowa program. Next Thursday's match kicks off the 2025-26 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, is set to begin at 7 pm and will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus.

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Players Mentioned

Isabella Agrusso

Kasey Cannistraro

Ella Ciardullo

Lucy Froitzheim

Morgan Goodman

Lauren Hernandez

Regan John

Megan Walters

Ella Zimmerman

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Iowa State University Athletics