Texas is well-known for being a football state, not necessarily for its soccer talent.

Eight of the 26 roster spots on the Cyclone soccer team belong to players who call Texas home, as opposed to only four players from the state of Iowa.

Recruiting talent from Texas is not an easy task, especially with four other Big 12 universities in the state with a women’s soccer program – Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor and Texas Tech. According to www.soccerbuzz.com, Texas had the top women’s soccer recruiting class in 2007, with Texas A&M ranked second. All but two of the Longhorns’ recruits are from the state of Texas. Iowa State was ranked last in 2007, but did have the second best class in 2006.

The Cyclones don’t shy away from recruiting on a national level, with particular success in the state of Texas, knowing it is essential for the success and future of the program, said coach Rebecca Hornbacher.

“We do recruit on a national level. We have had players from all over the country come represent the Cyclone soccer program,” Hornbacher said. “Texas has been one state that has produced some very quality soccer players.”

Junior forward Leslie Hill, from Plano, Texas, said the opportunity to play in the Big 12 sold her on Iowa State.

“Iowa State was appealing because it was an opportunity to stay in the Big 12 and come to a team that was growing and moving forward,” Hill said. “This team is still defining us and it is great to be a part of that.”

Hill said she was in contact with several schools in Texas and even some in the Big 12, but knew Iowa State was the place for her the summer after her junior year.

Midfielder Jordan Bishop found a different path to Iowa State. The freshman from Carrolton, Texas, has family ties to the state with relatives who live in Ames. Still, Bishop said the process didn’t only involve talking to the Cyclones.

“I was recruited the summer before my junior year and committed on my 16th birthday,” Bishop said. “There wasn’t much of a process, but I most definitely considered some schools in Texas. There are a lot of them.”

Hornbacher uses the lure of being at a Big 12 school while still getting away from home to draw recruits.

“There is obviously a lot of competition for players from within that state,” Hornbacher said.

“It is an advantage for us to be in the Big 12 when recruiting these players, because many of them want to go away from home, but still have the opportunity to play for a great university and to be a part of the competitive Big 12 Conference.”

The ability to play in the Big 12 is a huge selling point for potential recruits, but Hornbacher also stresses the importance of academics and the Ames community.

“I feel that Iowa State University is a tremendous place to bring young women who want to pursue an excellent education and be a part of a great soccer program,” Hornbacher said. “The student-athletes have outstanding resources and facilities to help them achieve success both in the classroom and on the field. Ames, Iowa, is a great place to live and is also a very safe community. The people at Iowa State University make this place special, and I feel that every recruit that comes on campus recognizes that and feels comfortable.”