The Cyclones hope to get back in the win column this weekend with a pair of conference matches at home against Texas A&M and Texas.

Iowa State will face Texas A&M on Friday — the seventh-ranked team in the country according to the most recent National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

The Aggies come into the game 11-3-0 on the season and 4-1-0 in the Big 12, and have a high-powered offense Iowa State will have to suppress.

“We’re going to have to defend hard, try to prevent goal scoring opportunities for them, especially easy ones, and look to counter,” said coach Wendy Dillinger.

“It’s not going to be a game where we’re playing in their half very much. We’re just going to have to defend, defend, defend and look for opportunities to counter.”

Iowa State struggled on the defensive end last weekend, allowing seven goals in its two games, but freshman defender Jessica Stewart has an answer.

“I think the biggest thing is stepping out with confidence, not sitting back and letting them attack but playing more of an offensive-minded defense,” Stewart said.

“Whenever they get the ball, being the first one there, putting pressure on tight, winning balls out of the air, just playing with confidence and not letting them push us around.”

Earlier this season, Iowa State was able to get some success in the box, but recently opponents have kept them out. Freshman Emily Goldstein hopes they can change that this weekend.

“We just need to relax,” Goldstein said. “In the box we just need to do what we know how to do; finish it, put it low and away from the keeper, and we just need to make sure we finish the opportunities that we get.”

Alyssa Mautz, an Aggie senior midfielder, ranks third in the Big 12 with 10 goals and has the potential to cause some havoc against the Cyclone defense.

“As in any game we have to recognize who their key player is, who their playmaker is, who their goal scorer is and do our best to shut them down by staying tight and not letting her do what she wants to do,” said junior defender Mary Kate McLaughlin.

Texas A&M keeper Kelly Dyer has also been crucial to the Aggies’ success this season, as she is second in the Big 12 in goals against average and save percentage.

“It we can come out of Friday night with a point [and] get a tie, we’re happy. If we do well defending and happen to score a goal on them on a counter or push forward and score, we’re excited,” Dillinger said. 

Iowa State was unable to hold the lead against Colorado last Sunday, but will need to find a way to keep a lead if they get one in order to keep up with the Aggies.

The Cyclones take on Texas in the second game of the weekend Sunday.

Texas is 8-3-3 this season and 1-2-2 in the conference, but what its record doesn’t show is its ability to keep games close by not allowing a lot of goals.

“Texas I think is a team that is very, very good, but not getting results right now and it’s something we need to try to take advantage of,” Dillinger said.

Goldstein said the key is getting shots off every time the chance presents itself.

“We have to be creative, we have to work hard, we can’t be satisfied with almost scoring,” Goldstein said. “We just need to make sure we get up the field and when we can shoot we need to shoot.”

McLaughlin said playing as a unit will help on the defensive end as well.

“Just in general, going against Texas, we need to focus on what we want to do defensively, and as long as we are playing together and moving together and stepping and organized and disciplined, then hopefully we won’t have any problems.”

Iowa State has five games left on its schedule, and after this weekend, they will have another weekend away before returning home for the final game of the season; they hope the home-field advantage will help them do well and get to the Big 12 tournament.

“It’s very helpful. We’ve put ourselves in a hole a little bit and not that we cant get out of it, but we need to get out of it. Being at home in a home atmosphere in front of a home crowd will help that I think,” McLaughlin said.

Stewart is not expected to play Friday as a result of the concussion she suffered last Sunday, but might be able to play Sunday against Texas.

The Cyclones’ first game is at 6:30 p.m. Friday against the Aggies, and admission is free. Sunday’s game begins at 1 p.m.