The state showdown is just five days away, but the ISU women’s soccer team has two road games to worry about before thinking about the Hawkeyes.

Fresh off their first win of the season, the Cyclones (1-3 overall) will finish their four-game road trip at the Diadora Classic in Omaha, Neb., this weekend, playing host Creighton (2-2-1) on Friday night and Northern Iowa (0-4) on Sunday.

Although focused on the task at hand, junior co-captain Brittanie Waddell said Tuesday’s game against Iowa is on her mind.

“We’re always looking forward to Iowa,” Waddell said. “But for now we are taking one game at a time. Once we get back on Sunday, on the bus ride we’ll start thinking about Iowa.”

Against Creighton, Iowa State will need full focus on Friday night against a quality opponent. The Bluejays, the preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite, are coming off a 2005 NCAA Tournament appearance.

Iowa State beat the Bluejays, 2-1, last year in the two programs’ first meeting ever.

“They are a dangerous team, a very hardworking team and they have some players who can cause problems for teams,” said coach Rebecca Hornbacher. “We are expecting it to be very physical, and a battle from beginning to end.”

Northern Iowa has 10 returning starters, but has struggled so far this season.

“They are a very scrappy team, so we are going to have to be very composed,” Hornbacher said. “We are going to have to look to control the ball, and we are going to look to control the possession of the game.”

The Cyclones brought back a new confidence from last weekend’s competition. Freshman goalie Ann Gleason and the Cyclones shutout Northwestern, 1-0. Despite a 2-0 loss against Minnesota, Hornbacher was encouraged by her team’s level of play over the weekend.

“We put a lot of things together, defensively and offensively [against Minnesota],” Hornbacher said. “Unfortunately, they had two opportunities that they banked on and we didn’t.”

Waddell said the team is excited to get back on the field after last weekend. Fellow co-captain Stephanie Kaphingst said the team is developing a trust in its freshman goalie.

“Definitely from last weekend, we are building our confidence in Ann,” she said. “She had some pretty good plays against Northwestern . we’re hoping she is keeping her confidence up.”

The team has been practicing on turf this week to simulate the game conditions at Morrison Stadium.

“I feel like we finally clicked and came together as a team,” Waddell said. “It should be exciting to see what happens . Our defense is solid and our offense has worked hard on breaking down Creighton.”

Kaphingst said it’s tough being on the road, but Waddell said it shouldn’t be a problem. Iowa State will also travel next weekend to Colorado Springs, Colo., to take part in the Colorado College Invitational.

“We can handle it. We’re not normally away for this long, but it gives us time to bond on the weeks since we’re with each other for so long,” Waddell said.

Other soccer resources from ISD:

Soccer team will conduct open tryouts (08/21)

A new standard (08/22)

Cyclones hope freshman will help fill void (08/22)

Cyclone women’s soccer team roster (08/22)

Fast Facts: Soccer (08/22)

Soccer team opens season with tough test on the road (08/25)

ISU soccer team takes a beating, defeated by the Fighting Irish (08/28)

Famous Father (08/29)

Soccer team drops home opener versus Bulldogs (08/29)

Freshman goalkeeper struggles in first games (08/29)

Team travels Midwest looking for win (09/01)

Freshman goalie steps up in shutout of Northwestern (09/05)