The Cyclones’ hopes of making the Big 12 tournament are gone, but the team’s confidence remains strong.  

Iowa State can finish its season with an 8-8-4 record with a win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the final game of the season tonight at 4.pm. in Lincoln, Neb. The Cyclones are coming off a 5-12-2 season in 2008, going winless in the conference last year.

“We need to win this game,” senior defender Elise Reid said . “For seven of us, this is our last game ever. We want to go out there with a win and I know every other person on this team wants us to go out with a win.”

Friday night’s contest against the Huskers will be the final collegiate contest for Reid, goalkeeper Ann Gleason, midfielder Casey Bothwell, defender Lauren Fader, forward Amanda Nimtz and mdifielders Elise Berzins and Adrianna O’ Neill.

The Cyclones are no longer eligible for the Big 12 tournament after dropping decisions to Missouri and Kansas this past weekend.

The Jayhawks knocked off Iowa State 1-0, with the difference being a penalty kick. Coach Wendy Dillinger described the team’s performance as average, flat and the fact that they were simply outplayed by the Jayhawks.

“They were high pressured,” sophomore midfielder Mary Kate Mclaughlin said. “They attacked a lot and had a lot of offense. There were a lot of attackers playing into the box.”

Iowa State played the Tigers, who are known for their aggressive style of attacking play, closer than the 3-1 deficit indicated. They held Missouri to two shots and kept it out of the scoring column in the first half.  

The Cyclones had gameplanned well in advance to handle the aggressiveness of the Tigers, which helped them able to draw even in the second half before the Tigers were able to break the Cyclones’ defense down in the 73rd minute to get the victory.

The Cornhuskers feature the leading scorer in the nation in the form of freshman forward Morgan Marlborough, who shares the national lead in goals scored with Portland’s Danielle Foxhoven with 21. Iowa State has a plan to shut her down.

“Mary Kate ‘the Big Cat’ McLaughlin,” Dillinger said. “I think Mary Kate will be able to do a good job and shut her down.”

While the Cyclones would still like to have a chance at making the Big 12 tournament, closing out the season with a win is something the team is focusing on.

“I think we have a lot of confidence,” Dillinger said. “We want to go out and have fun and enjoy it and try to score a couple goals.”  

Iowa State feels they have formed a strong bond this season between the seniors and underclassmen, therefore making the underclassmen more motivated to send the seniors off with a victory this weekend agains the Cornhuskers.

“Not very many people get to win on their last games of their careers,” Reid said. “I think that would be a great way to end what I’ve had. If I can’t go to the Big 12 tournament, I want to win the last game I ever play.”