IOWA CITY -— The ISU women’s soccer team landed two shots early, and that was all it needed. It won the game 2-1, giving Iowa State a 2-0 lead in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk series.

After scoring one goal in their first four games of the season, the Cyclones (2-2-1) needed just 20 minutes to post a 2-0 lead, the only goals they would need to win.

Freshman Meghan Smith fed the ball to senior Amy Flores for the Cyclones’ first goal. Smith — who has assists on all three ISU goals this season — hit Flores with a cross in the box, and the forward scored past Iowa’s Lindsey Boldt just seven minutes into the game.

Twelve minutes later, Renee de St. Aubin poked Smith’s pass into the net.

Shut out three times already this season, coach Rebecca Hornbacher said she saw her team finally execute its offense effectively.

“We started out the game with good intensity,” Hornbacher said. “I talked about setting the tone in the first 10 minutes and we did that. … Overall, we did what we need to do — combine a great defensive game and an offensive game.”

Even after giving up two quick goals, the Hawkeyes (1-3-1) hung in the game, scoring in the last 10 minutes of the first half to stay within striking distance.

A perfect pass from freshman Stephanie Hyink crossed Cyclone goalkeeper Joanna Haig, leaving the right side of the goal open for Hawkeye Manon Engelhardt.

In last year’s game, Iowa State scored one minute and 15 seconds into the game, but then added three more goals before the half en route to a 6-1 victory.

“Iowa didn’t lay down at all,” Flores said. “They kept in the game. It was a good win for us against a quality team. Hopefully we can carry this into the weekend.”

Two of the first six shots by Iowa State were goals. They finished with 16 shots to Iowa’s 11. Haig had three saves; Boldt had six, including a pair of diving stops to rob Cyclone goals.

But she was helpless against the combination of Smith and the ISU forwards. The freshman has made an immediate impact.

“I love Smith’s crosses,” Flores said. “They are like the stuff that you score goals on in your dreams … We were in a little scoring drought, hopefully we broke out of it.”

Hornbacher said she thought her team let up on the Hawkeyes after the two early tallies, but was pleased with how they came out after the break.

“I think there was a little bit of a drop-off,” Hornbacher said. “But we addressed that. We didn’t get any more goals in the second half, but overall we were solid and made more chances. We really played well as a team.”

Iowa State’s defense did a good job shutting down their opposition; Haig had no saves in the second half, a testament to the defense.

“Our back line really came together. Kate Kirwin and Deb Benakis both had a great game, and Joanna came up with some good saves,” Hornbacher said. “Meghan Smith had both assists, and [Flores] had an outstanding game. She was just dangerous.”

The Cyclones will play two games this weekend, hosting South Dakota State and Colorado College on Friday and Sunday, respectively.