The ISU soccer team opens its regular-season campaign Sunday, and its first game won’t be a cakewalk.

In fact, the Cyclones will have their hands full against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies, out of Rochester, Mich., are coming off a season that saw them make an NCAA Tournament appearance and win the Mid-Continent Conference championship.

They also are a mystery to the Cyclones.

“It is early in the season, so there is not much information out there on them yet,” said coach Rebecca Hornbacher. “We are focusing on preparation for our team and doing the things that we need to do to be successful.”

The Cyclones are coming out of an undefeated spring season and a fall exhibition season in which they were 1-1 with a win over Creighton and a loss to Drake.

“Our ladies are ready to compete in our home opener,” Hornbacher said. “We have had the opportunity to play two exhibition matches that have helped us to see things that we have been working on in our training sessions, as well as things that we can improve upon. They have been working very hard and I know they are excited to compete in our home opener.”

One player anxious to get things going is senior forward Erin Witte. Witte has scored two of the Cyclones’ three goals in the exhibition season.

“Going into the season, it being my last year, I need to make sure that the momentum doesn’t slow down,” Witte said. “Coming out of preseason, the team is very excited and anxious to start the season. Since playing against Creighton and Drake, we have been practicing hard and fixing minor details so we are able to come out with a win on Sunday.

“We are all ready for the season to start. As a team, we work from dusk until dawn, and we’re ready to show it on game day.”

After an off-season of early morning practices and hours upon hours in the weight room, the Cyclones are anxious to get on the field and show that they are a much-improved team from last year’s.

“Every time they step out on the field we are looking for them to leave everything on the field,” Hornbacher said. “We need to play as a team and collectively put together the things that we have been emphasizing in practices. Our focus needs to be on Iowa State, and what we need to do to be successful as a team.”