The ISU women’s soccer team opens its season this weekend at home.

The Arizona Wildcats will be in town Friday night, and the Cyclones will battle in-state rival Drake on Sunday evening.

Iowa State kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday against Arizona.

The Cyclones are aware of their opponent’s caliber.

“[Dan Tobias] is a great coach,” ISU head coach Rebecca Hornbacher said. “I think that they are really going to put a great team on the field.”

Iowa State must enter its first contest both physically and mentally fit. The Wildcats will play a style of soccer that attacks the ball instead of one that sits back on defense.

“[Arizona] has great speed,” Hornbacher said. “They have a lot of players that can get involved in the attack, and they also have a pretty solid back line.”

With a new mindset this season, the Cyclones aren’t going to be looking ahead.

“We are going to take it one game at a time this season,” junior forward Amy Flores said.

With that view in mind, Flores and her teammates hope to enter Friday night prepared for anything that is thrown their way.

The Cyclones have been working on team depth as well, and all remain confident in the ability of their entire roster.

“Our bench is really deep,” junior forward Kristina Baumann said. “Everyone has been working really hard with the mindset that ‘I could have to go in at any time’.”

Baumann also said that it is important to have confidence in their teammates.

The Cyclones enter their 2004 season coming off a 5-10-4 season.

“We have everything to prove,” Baumann said. “We are ready to prove it.”