By Luke Plansky

Daily Sports Writer

Lauren Odino is quickly becoming a catalyst for the ISU women’s soccer team.

On Sunday afternoon, the freshman scored her third goal of the season, breaking a scoreless tie late in the first half of a 1-0 victory over Texas Tech. The Cyclones (6-7, 2-1 in the Big12) salvaged the weekend series at home against the Red Raiders after losing to Baylor, 3-0, Friday night in Waco, Texas.

Odino keyed the win over Nebraska to open the Big 12 season, and came through again in the clutch with the only ISU goal of the weekend.

“We didn’t want two losses in a row,” Odino said. “We weren’t going to let that happen.”

Against Baylor (5-6-1, 2-2 in the Big 12), Iowa State fell behind early and didn’t have the firepower to make up the deficit. The Bears scored 15 minutes into the game and tacked on another goal seven minutes before the halftime buzzer.

The Cyclones had only five shots on goal. Freshman goalie Ann Gleason had seven saves.

“I think our head was down just a little bit [after the early goals],” said senior Jess Villhauer. “We kept trying to fight back, but it wasn’t enough.”

Against the Red Raiders (5-7, 1-2 in the Big 12), Odino gave the Cyclones some confidence, as well as the lead, before the break.

She received a pass in the right side of the box, then tried to slide and shoot past a Texas Tech defender. After the shot was blocked, she beat the Red Raider to her feet and rolled a shot past the goalkeeper into the left corner of the goal.

Odino’s thought process was simple during the scramble.

“I saw the defender, [the ball] go over her head and I ran onto it. I went to shoot it, and it didn’t go where I thought it would go, and I looked down and it was at my feet and I just kicked it,” Odino said. “I didn’t want them to get the ball, so I kicked it real fast.”

Odino was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week last week. Coach Rebecca Hornbacher has been impressed with the rookie so far this season.

“I tell you what, she’s sick too. She’s got the stomach flu,” Hornbacher said. “She’s just the type of player that grins and bears it. And she is a goal scorer . she is going to do what she needs to do to get the ball in the back of the net.”

Sophomore forward Leslie Hill was glad the team bounced back after the loss in Waco.

The 2-1 loss to Baylor in 2005 was the difference between first and second place in the Big 12.

“Last year, Baylor was the game that kind of screwed us over,” Hill said. “Now [the win] keeps our head above water.”

Hornbacher said the three points were crucial in the conference race.

“I think we are learning from our experiences right now,” Hornbacher said. “It’s good that we have two wins under our belt in conference. We have a very important weekend next week, and I think we are going to be prepared.”

The Cyclones outshot the Red Raiders, 15-12, on Sunday but had two less shots on goal. Gleason had seven saves.

The freshman goalie came into the weekend leading the Big 12 in saves.

Iowa State is on the road next weekend against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.