Just two years after being removed from making the NCAA Tournament, the ISU soccer team is refocused on one goal – getting back to the Big Dance.

Last season, Iowa State struggled to a disappointing 6-14 record, losing seven straight Big 12 games to close the season and finish with a 2-8 conference record. The Cyclones, however, are coming off an undefeated spring (5-0-1) and a strong offseason.

“I think we just had a really young team last year,” said senior captain Brittanie Waddell. “We needed the experience going through the spring and working really hard in the morning getting mentally tough and physically tough, and it will show this season.”

The Cyclones return 19 of 21 players from last year’s team and will be without only one starter from last year’s team.

“We have a lot of experience and more depth than I’ve ever seen with our program,” coach Rebecca Hornbacher said. “I think experience is going to be the key component to us being successful this year.”

Goalkeeper Ann Gleason might be the player to benefit most from the experience of last year. Gleason was thrown between the pipes as a freshman and recorded the most saves in single-season history for any Cyclone with 119. Gleason also led the Big 12 in saves.

“The entire summer I played on a W-League [club] team, so I got to practice and play a lot,” Gleason said. “For me, I feel that was the biggest thing was just getting in a good training environment, pushing me and forcing me to get better, and just playing against some high-level games against a lot of college players was really good. It helped me improve on my confidence and communication, which were both things I really wanted to improve on this year.”

Depth will be one of the team’s advantages heading into the physical conference season with a roster of 26 players. Having a large roster will give the team the ability to not rely on three or four women, but use their depth as an advantage – something they will greatly need in the Big 12 Conference.

The preseason coaches poll ranks the Cyclones last in the Big 12, yet the Cyclones enter the season with optimism.

“We definitely came together in the spring and worked really, really hard and I feel like we got a lot of experience,” Waddell said. “[It’s important] getting all the youngsters feeling comfortable playing in the Big 12, and we have a lot of good transfers coming in and a lot of freshmen who are really talented, as well, who should be a good addition to the team. I think they are adjusting well already.”

Hornbacher said Gleason will be challenged for playing time by freshman goalie Ashley Costanzo. Costanzo, a West Des Moines Valley product, was a three-year All-State selection and a leader on a Valley team that won three straight state championships.