Spring is the time for the ISU women’s soccer team to begin preparations for the fall, and come Saturday in the Best of Iowa tournament, that’s exactly what it will be doing.

The Cyclones, who won the tournament last season, will use their first spring tournament of the year as a preview to next season. Iowa, Northern Iowa and Drake are also featured in the four-team tournament.

Because of injuries to senior Kristina Baumann (broken leg) and sophomore Maggie McManemin (torn ACL), coach Rebecca Hornbacher said the team will not have a large roster Saturday.

Juniors Jess Villhauer, Meghan Schlenker and Kate Kirwan all had surgery after the fall season ended, but are in good shape and will play on Saturday, Hornbacher said.

Baumann and McManemin are expected to return to the lineup by the fall.

“We’re lower in numbers right now, but we’re really getting some good work in with the team,” Hornbacher said. “They’re training hard.”

Senior Deb Benakis said the team is excited to play in its first tournament of the spring, not to mention against an NCAA-sanctioned team. Up to this point, it had only scrimmaged against club programs.

“We’re excited about this weekend,” Benakis said. “It’s always a lot of fun to play against an opponent instead of just going to practice again.”

She also said incoming freshmen — who will not play in the tournament this weekend — have already added a sense of cohesiveness that continues to grow.

“[The freshmen] add a lot; it’s a lot better right now knowing we’re looking this good after last fall,” Benakis said. “The team gets along really well, probably better than they ever did.”

Hornbacher said the team will receive an added boost with the return of senior Leslie Hansell, who has returned to the field after taking a year off.

The tournament allows the Cyclones to experiment by putting players in different positions. Kirwan, a forward in the fall, has been playing defense throughout the spring.

“I think she’s a very versatile player, very athletic,” Hornbacher said. “I think she gives a great look for the outside position because she adds that ability to attack.”

Iowa State hasn’t faced an NCAA team since Nov. 3, when it lost 4-1 to No. 1 seed Kansas in the Big 12 tournament. Hornbacher said the opportunity to return to the field and begin getting a good look at other college programs, should help in preparations for the fall.

“It’s a good opportunity for our girls to get out and play and see where they’re at,” Hornbacher said. “The team has been working hard in trying to develop our speed of play, and we’ve worked on that.”

The exhibition tournament kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday with Iowa State and Iowa, and Northern Iowa and Drake at 11:30 a.m. The consolation match begins at 2 p.m., and the first-place match at 3:30 p.m.

All games will be held at the ISU Soccer Complex.