The Iowa State Women’s Soccer Club split its games in Lincoln, Neb. this past weekend, defeating New Mexico on Friday and falling to No. 16 Virginia Tech on Sunday. The Cyclones (3-1) are using these games as preparation for their game against rival University of Iowa on Friday.

The Cyclones prevailed 1-0 against New Mexico (0-2-1) on Friday evening, marking the second time in program history that the team has started a season 3-0.

Meredith Skitt, a junior in kinesiology and health, scored the lone goal for the Cyclones in the 85th minute of the game. The goal was the second of Skitt’s career, both having come in game-winning fashion.

Despite the Friday’s victory, the Cyclones did not feel as though they played at their full potential.

“We could’ve definitely played better,” said Cyclone Emily Goldstein, a junior in advertising, “but the fact that we were able to get the result that we wanted—when we weren’t playing as well—was really good for us.”

Sunday’s loss to No. 16 Virginia Tech Hokies (4-0) was the first defeat of the season for the Cyclones.

The Hokies scored at the 25:51 mark and hung on for the 1-0 victory. The goal scored against the Virginia Tech Hokies was the first that the Cyclones’ defense has achieved so far this season.

However, the Hokies outscored the Cyclones 9-4 on Sunday, which marked the first time the Cyclones have failed to score a goal in eight contests, dating back to last October.

“If we played them again, I think it could be a totally different game,” Goldstein said. “We left the field knowing that we gave everything that we could, and I don’t think that Virginia Tech is going to want to play us again.”

By winning Friday’s match against the Hokies, the ISU Women’s Soccer Club displayed their capability of competing with some of the top teams in the nation. The Cyclones can take pride in this fact and will use it to build future confidence. 

“With today’s game, we showed that we have a lot of fight in us,” said ISU’s Brittany Morgan, a junior in marketing. “We’re capable of hanging with really good teams.”

The Cyclones’ next soccer match is against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes (3-0) on Friday, as part of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. The Hawkeyes have  a solid start this season, winning all of their first three contests with a combined score of 12-0.

“That’s going to be a big game for us,” Goldstein said. “We can take the things that we did well this weekend, and we can learn from the things we did wrong, and then we just move forward with that and prepare for Iowa this weekend.”

The Iowa-Iowa State match is always one of most anticipated games scheduled for the Cyclones’s women soccer players. The in-state rivalry adds a special dimension to the game with the teams’ hostility toward each other.

“We’re looking ahead; we’re getting ready,” said Morgan. “It’s definitely going to be a battle on Friday. We’re ready to play.”