Coming into the season, the ISU soccer team knew they needed to have consistent play.

However, consistency still seems to be an issue, as the Cyclones opened the season with a pair of losses at the Illinois Challenge Cup last weekend.

After sticking with No. 18 Illinois on Friday night, the Cyclones dug themselves into an early hole on Sunday against Pittsburgh, eventually losing 4-1.

“Friday we battled. We played well and competed,” said coach Wendy Dillinger. “Sunday was a nightmare. We just came out flat. The first half, it was if we were still sleeping.”

During the opening game on Friday, the Illini offense came out firing, out-shooting Iowa State 8-1 in the first half. Despite the offensive outburst, the Cyclones trailed by only one goal going into halftime.

Twenty minutes into the second half, Illinois looked to be pulling away, scoring their second goal. But 13 seconds later, the Cyclones responded. Midfielders Laura Wooster and Jordan Bishop fed the ball to junior Lauren Odino, who netted the Cyclones’ first goal of the season.

And suddenly the Cyclones found themselves within a goal of tying.

With less than 10 minutes to go, Iowa State brought one of their midfielders to help spur an attack. The gamble didn’t pay off as Illinois countered Iowa State’s attack, allowing Illinois midfielder Courtney Bell to score in the 85th minute, extinguishing any hopes of a comeback.

Even though the offense was able to find openings, Iowa State still struggled to put the ball in the net, ending the game with only four shots.

“We had a lot of good looks at the goal, but didn’t pull the trigger,” Dillinger said. “We have to take opportunities when we get them. We’re looking for the perfect shot, instead of just taking the half-shot.”

After the near comeback against the Illini, the promise the Cyclones had shown seemed to disappear when they took the pitch against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

“We were just asleep Sunday, and Pittsburgh took the opportunity when they got behind us and finished,” Dillinger said.

The Cyclones dug themselves into a hole early, allowing the Panthers to score less than three minutes into the game. A goal just before halftime put Iowa State down two going into the second half.

Pittsburgh scored twice in the second half, before junior Elise Reid finally put Iowa State on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal in the 79th minute.

Unlike the Illinois game the Cyclones dominated the shot column, getting off a total of 18 shots. Regardless of their many shots on goal, the team could not find a way to capitalize on their many opportunities.

“We didn’t have a lot of power on our shots, especially in the second half,” Dillinger said.

Injuries, which were a problem throughout the preseason, continued to hound the team.

The Cyclone’s were dealt another blow when senior co-captain Amanda Purple suffered a high-ankle sprain during first half against Illinois. Dillinger said Purple is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Purple’s injury, along with several other nagging injuries, left Iowa State with only four available subs for Sunday’s game. This forced six Cyclone players to play the entire half.

Despite dropping both games, Dillinger said the way the team hung with Illinois showed the players they can compete with nation’s best if they can be more consistent.

“Being able to hang and compete with Illinois is a real confidence booster. But what it also shows is that we have to compete at that level, with that intensity, every game,” Dillinger said.

“We need consistent work on and off the ball for 90 minutes, both days, Fridays and Sundays.”

The Cyclones will get another chance to work on their consistency this weekend, as they go up against Depaul and Northern Iowa on the road.