Cyclone senior Erin Witte scored two goals to lead the ISU women’s soccer team to a 2-1 season-opening win over Oakland, a 2006 NCAA Tournament qualifier.

The Golden Grizzlies, winners of last year’s Mid-Continent Conference title and the projected winners for the 2007 season, could not defeat the Cyclones (1-0 overall) at Sunday afternoon’s matchup at the Iowa State soccer complex.

Witte scored the first of two goals early in the first half, giving Iowa State a 1-0 cushion just over 2 minutes into the game. Witte received a pass from sophomore midfielder Elise Reid, then shot and scored from the center of the box.

Only two shots were allowed by the Cyclones in the first half, the first of which was attempted 26 minutes into the game. The Cyclones had nine shots before the Golden Grizzlies managed one.

More than 20 minutes into the second half, Oakland senior Kristi Tomczyk scored an equalizer goal on the team’s fourth and final shot attempt of the game.

With 12 minutes remaining, Witte’s leg struck again, giving the Cyclones the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal. Witte received a pass from senior Stephanie Kaphingst on a three-on-two possession, kept the ball, and shot from the top of the box into the lower left corner of the net.

The Cyclones finished the game with 18 shots – 10 on goal – and the Golden Grizzlies (0-2) finished with four – three on goal.

Sophomore ISU goalie Ann Gleason had two saves in the game, while Golden Grizzlies junior goalie Kim Herbst had seven saves from the Cyclones 10 shots on goal.

The next Cyclone matchup will be Friday at 7 p.m. against in-state rival Northern Iowa.