The ISU soccer team saw improvement last season, but to take another step forward they need to show consistency.

Last season the Cyclones enjoyed success at home, as well as great play on Friday games. The team, however, experienced difficulties on the road and gave an anemic performance in Sunday games.

The players will be the first to tell you that those are the two big issues coming into this season.

“We played so well on Friday last year, but when Sunday came around it was bad, and we need to improve on that,” junior Elise Reid said.

It is hard for any team to play well on a consistent basis when they play two games every weekend, but last year’s team never seemed to muster up the same play as they did during the Friday matches.

“I think our Sunday games have been a little on edge,” said sophomore Jordan Bishop. “We come out hard on our Friday games, and then our Sunday games are a little behind and we need to step it up.”

Last year the Cyclones went 5-2-3 on Friday games, but Sunday games saw the team finish with a 3-4-1 record.

Coming out with the same intensity each and every game will be key to the team turning that record around.

“We would usually come out with good intensity to start Sunday games, but the second half would always be tough,” Reid said. “Finishing games will be a big key for us this year.”

Along with their good Friday record, the Cyclones had a remarkable home-field advantage last season, going 5-2-1 in Ames, but they struggled on the road with a 1-3-3 record.

“You have your fans at home, which makes it easier, but at the same time other teams have their fans at home,” Reid said. “It makes things tough on the road, but we just need to work harder and focus.”

Coach Wendy Dillinger knows how tough it is to win on the road.

“The Big 12 is tough, and there will be no easy games. But we have to work together to improve each game and focus on playing well,” Dillinger said.

The Cyclones will get a chance to rid themselves of both struggles this year as they play all three of the Big12’s preseason ranked teams, #8 Texas , #15 Texas A&M, and #23 Oklahoma State, on the road, with two of the games being played on Sunday. All three of those teams ranked in the top-25 nationally in home attendance for the 2007 season.

In order to compete with these nationally ranked teams, as well as the rest of the Big 12, the Cyclones will need to recover from off-season injuries.

Juniors Casey Bothwell and Tori Johnson, as well as freshman Krista Long have experienced preseason ailments.

“Casey had surgery during the off-season, and is recovering well right now,” Dillinger said. “I know once she gets back to form everything will be fine.”

Johnson is dealing with an ankle sprain, which is common among soccer players, but Dillinger is confident she will be ready to go.

“Tori’s ankle has been bothering her, and we’re taking it easy until she’s ready,” Dillinger said. “We’re backing down on certain areas right now to limit the injuries for everybody.”

Long is suffering from a broken leg, which she sustained during practice last week. The injury is expected to be season-ending.

The team’s ability to stay healthy and maintain their endurance throughout the weekend will play a major factor in the outcome of the season.

“We play as a team,” Bishop said. “If one person messes up we all have each other’s back. That’s what defines a team.”