After making its first Big 12 tournament appearance since 2007 last season, the ISU women’s soccer program will transition into a new era this season. Tony Minatta will take over as head coach for his first full season at the position.

Minatta, who is no stranger to the program after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach for the Cyclones, took the head coaching position late last season as the interim head coach after former head coach Wendy Dillinger’s contract was not renewed.

Shortly after the season, it was announced that the interim title would be dropped and Minatta became the fifth head coach in program history.

Taking over the head coaching position last season allowed Minatta to get a jumpstart on implementing his plans and strategies for the upcoming season.

“Getting the opportunity to get [the head coaching position] when I did gave me a lot of time to plan,” Minatta said. “I like to plan practices out, plan recruiting out and have everything set months in advance. If you’re better prepared, it puts you in a better position to succeed.”

The transition from assistant coach to head coach has been smooth, Minatta said, because of the familiarity and the relationships between the coach and his players.

The smooth transition led to a productive spring season. The team could focus on improving its play instead of focusing on a head coaching adjustment.

“It’s an awesome atmosphere,” said senior goalkeeper Andrea Swanson. “Tony has done a great job getting us all on the same page right away and working hard and it’s been great for the team.”

With the head coaching transition in the team’s rearview mirror, the team is now focusing on the upcoming season where it has a few holes to plug after losing seniors to graduation.

Last season’s two top goal scorers, Emily Goldstein and Jennifer Dominguez, have both moved on due to graduation, leaving open spots at attacking positions.

Minatta said with Dominguez and Goldstein gone, he will look to Koree Willer, a sophomore forward, to carry the load offensively. Last season, Willer was third on the team with four goals and led the team in assists with six.

“I definitely have to step up and not just be an assister but a goal scorer and a prominent attacking player on this team,” Willer said of her increased role this season.

In addition to Willer, Minatta expects senior Hayley Womack and freshman Maribell Morales to help provide the offensive fire power for the team.

Womack has had an “up and down” career to this point, Minatta said, due to inconsistent playing time. Stepping into a starting role this year, Minatta expects Womack to thrive and gel well with Willer at the forward positions.

Though Morales is only a freshman, Minatta expects her to come in and make an immediate impact on this season after strong performances throughout the spring season.

“Maribell Morales is a freshman who has come in and really turned some heads,” Minatta said. “She’s going to make the players around her better and she’s a gifted goal scorer herself.”

Also lost to graduation was Maddie Jobe, who recorded 91 saves last season, which was the second highest total in the Big 12 last year.

Taking Jobe’s place will be Andrea Swanson, who played her first two years at Iowa State before transferring to Drake last season.

Swanson returns to Iowa State this year with plenty of experience after recording 103 saves last year and finishing the season with a 1.55 goals-against average at Drake.

Swanson will have plenty of help defending the net, given that Minatta called the backline players one of the team’s biggest strengths.

“They are very athletic, very fast and they tackle hard,” Minatta said of the backline players. “I wouldn’t want to go at that backline.”

With Minatta taking the reins and plenty of momentum carrying over from last season, expectations are high for the Cyclones.

“We have expectations to finish top of the league and to go on to the NCAA tournament,” Willer said. “We just want to keep raising the bar.”