Failure to put goals away and keep up a pressure attack for the entire game was an issue throughout the weekend as the ISU soccer team split a pair of games against Drake and Iowa.

Friday night featured the Cyclones (4-4) at home for the first time against a Drake Bulldogs team, which came in with a 1-4-1 record. The Cyclones came away with a 2-1 victory after a late goal by sophomore Julie Chen.

Constant pressure by the Cyclones’ front gave the team ample opportunities to score, but converted only two of its 20 shots.

“We are improving, and if you look at all the chances we had in the second half, if we put three or four of those away it’s not even close,” said coach Wendy Dillinger.

Whether it was crosses that went just out of reach or a pass tapped a little too far, the Cyclones could not capitalize on their chances.

A positive for the team was the intensity they showed. Dillinger knew they had the ability to play aggressive, which showed against Drake.

“We showed a lot of fight,” Dillinger said. “I think we’re moving the ball better and created some really good opportunities. We just have to finish.”

Finishing is a common word thrown around by the players after games and during practice.

“This week in practice, we worked on not giving up and working the entire game,” said senior Leslie Hill, who netted the first goal against Drake. “We did run more because she [Dillinger] thought we looked tired last Sunday.”

Defensively, the Cyclones played with a chip on their shoulder after the Bulldogs punched in the tying goal in 21st minute. The combination of freshman Emily Hejlik and junior Lauren Fader held Drake to only three shots on goal in the second half.

“I thought we let them back in the first half on the counter when they [Drake] scored,” Dillinger said. “But second half, I thought we played much better. We dominated and moved the ball better and created a lot more opportunities.”

The excitement from Friday’s match carried over into the Sunday showdown with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Again, the Cyclones jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but missed several chances to put a strangle hold on the Hawkeyes (5-4).

“We cannot have those opportunities be missed,” said junior Lauren Odino. “Goals win games and missing them is not going to win us the game.”

One particular moment occurred minutes after sophomore Jordan Bishop put the first goal on the board for Iowa State. Hill crashed the net hard along with junior Elise Reid, but even with the goalie out of position, the team could not find the back of the net.

Despite the missed opportunities, the Cyclones played with immense pressure, especially on defense.

The second half was a different story.

Iowa scored three unanswered goals against a sluggish ISU team, ultimately defeating the Cyclones 3-2.

“Defensively and offensively in the first half we came out with a lot of energy,” Hejlik said. “But we need to put a full 90 minutes together, because after they [Iowa] scored their first goal, the whole attitude just dropped.”

Dillinger was taken aback at the difference in play between the two halves Sunday.

“To come out as flat as we did in the second half is just shocking and disappointing,” she said.

Individual accountability and playing through a whole game will be a key for the Cyclones as they gear up for the start of Big 12 conference play next weekend.

“It comes down to each and every one of us doing what we’re supposed to,” Odino said.

Iowa State opens the conference season at home Friday against Missouri.