Iowa State’s soccer team (4-0-2) will head to Illinois Friday to take on Loyola-Chicago (1-5-0) and Illinois State (3-2-0), two unfamiliar teams from our neighbors to the east. The two-game weekend will be the last set of away games for the Cyclones before they get to play their first true home game of the year against Iowa on Sept. 17.

Such a long stretch of away weekends can start to take its toll on a team, especially a team as young as Iowa State. However, the players are staying positive and hope to stretch their undefeated non-conference record through the weekend.

“It’s always tough to play on the road, so you really have to bring extra energy and extra fire. It’s tough and it’s challenging but everyone has a really good attitude about it and it’s not like we can play at home anyway right now because of our field,” said junior co-captain defender Mary Kate McLaughlin. “We just bring in extra energy and extra fight and make a statement.”

McLaughlin’s veteran knowledge has been a big help for the Cyclones’ back line this season, but she is quick to give credit to the rest of the defense as well.

“We’ve actually had a lot of people play good defense the past couple weeks. We’re still working on a lot of things with good communication but our back line always plays hard, which is nice,” McLaughlin said.

“We have girls coming off the bench and you can’t even tell that the game’s changed, so that’s great.”

Their Friday night opponent will be Loyola-Chicago, a team Iowa State has only played once, all the way back in 1996, but the unfamiliarity doesn’t seem to make the Cyclones flinch.

The Ramblers have had troubles giving up goals this season, getting outscored 19-2 in their seven games this season. The Cyclones are hoping their recent success finding goals will continue against the porous LUC defense.

“We are focused more on what we need to do, and doing what we need to do is going to take care of whatever we see,” said head coach Wendy Dillinger.

Senior co-captain midfielder Jordan Bishop is optimistic as well about going against a squad no Cyclones have seen in live action.

“It makes it more fun because you don’t know what to expect so you can just go out and play and don’t have go worry about certain players,” Bishop said. 

As in almost any sport, solid offense is backed up by a good defense, and Bishop gives much credit to the defense for Iowa State’s ability to score.

“Being able to trust the back line gives them more opportunities to take risks maybe more on the offensive side of the field and not be scared to take people one on one,” Bishop said. 

In the four games Iowa State has won this year, it has outscored opponents 8-2, but the Cyclones weren’t able to put any balls in the net Sunday against North Dakota State. Dillinger said they have worked that situation out.

This week in practice, the Cyclones worked on physicality, and hope it pays dividends during the weekend.

What is the key for an ISU victory?

“Playing more physical, being more physically dominant, holding the ball better, and just competing better in the final 30 yards,” Dillinger said. 

The second game of the weekend will come against a more familiar team in Illinois State; the Cyclones haven’t faced them since Dillinger’s first season at Iowa State in 2008.

But, Illinois State junior forward Jessica Carlson could pose a scoring threat for the Cyclones with her team-high four points this season.

Freshman goalie Maddie Jobe will get the nod in goal this weekend, with senior Ashley Costanzo still out with an injury, and has earned plenty of praise from the coaching staff and players since she stepped into the starting role in place of Costanzo.

“Maddie Jobe has been stellar since Ashley got hurt and she has definitely been an anchor in the back for us,” Dillinger said.

Since becoming the starter Aug. 29 against Nevada, Jobe has recorded a 2-0-1 record and shown she can start and succeed at the collegiate level. With Jobe’s recent success, Dillinger said Costanzo will have to earn back the starting spot from the freshman when she is healthy.

“[Jobe] kind of has to be dethroned now,” Dillinger said.