Iowa State vs. North Dakota Primer

Who: Iowa State (1-1-2, 0-0 Big 12) vs. North Dakota (5-2-0, 0-0 Summit)

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

When: September 7 – 1 p.m.

Kicking Off
After suffering its first setback of the 2025 campaign, Iowa State will be back in action this weekend against North Dakota. The Cyclones will look to earn their first home win of the season and get back on track.

After opening the season with a three-game unbeaten streak, its longest such stretch since 2022, Iowa State came up short at No. 11 Iowa Thursday evening in the first leg of the 2025-26 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. ISU was limited to just four shots, as it was shut out for the first time in 2025.

After opening the season 5-0, North Dakota has dropped its last two contests. UND got off to the first 5-0-0 start since the program moved up to Division I (2008-present) and the best start since the 2005 Fighting Sioux began the year 5-0-0.

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 started the season with a streak of three straight results - it is the program's longest since 2022. The Cyclones earned a result for the third consecutive season in both their 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 360 minutes to date. Goodman owns six shots, leading the team, while M. Walters is just behind her with five.

Between the pipes, Kasey Cannistraro has been solid through four contests, notching 21 saves. Cannistraro recorded her first career clean sheet and win against Creighton and tallied a personal best nine saves at No. 11 Iowa.

Overall, the Cyclones have four goals this season and have allowed four scores. The team has 37 total shots, averaging 9.2 per contest, and places 45.9% of them on goal.

Opponent Outlook
North Dakota's electric offense is led by sophomore forward Charlie Basinet who has a team-best five goals. Basinet is one of eight Fighting Hawks to have multiple goals on the season, as the team collectively has an 18-goal differential on the year.

Basinet also has three assists, making up a total of 13 points to lead the team. Cora Ellermann has a team-high five assists to go along with three goals of her own, as she sits at 11 points. Amelia Loeffler is tied with Ellermann for second-most scores on the team, as she also has three.

North Dakota has used a pair of keepers in net this season, but Grace Miller has gotten the majority of the work for the Fighting Hawks. Miller, a sophomore from San Diego, has four wins and two shutouts under her belt with 19 saves.

Series History
The two teams have met just once prior, with Iowa State winning 4-0 in Ames back in 2013. In the previous meeting, ISU outshot UND 32-1 and scored three goals in the first half – including one in the first four minutes.

Up Next
Iowa State will wrap up non-conference action next Thursday, Sept. 11, when it heads to Cedar Falls to take on UNI. The Cyclones and Panthers are set to square off at 4 pm and the action will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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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