With the loss of only three seniors, the ISU soccer team is confident its experience will help it improve last year’s 5-10-4 record.

“I will be open and honest with you by saying our team is not happy where we were last year,” said head coach Rebecca Hornbacher. “We have a great conference in the Big 12 — teams that are in the top 20 on a weekly basis.”

Despite the team’s record, junior defender Deb Benakis said last year had positives.

“We are [going to] use the experience gained from last year and take that to have a better year,” Benakis said. “I think we are ready to come back stronger this year than we were last year.

“This team has gotten a little closer already this year, and the freshman came in here and worked themselves in.”

In addition to experience, depth will be a bonus for the team this year, Hornbacher said.

“Last year, we had players that were coming in [off the bench] that I felt the level of play may have dropped off a bit,” Hornbacher said.

Hornbacher said that this year, the players on the bench are just as strong as those on the field.

“I don’t feel the starting lineup by any means is an indication of the 10 best players, because we might be 15 to 16 deep for starting spots,” Hornbacher said.

The returning players have already begun the mentoring process with the nine newcomers on the squad and are doing a good job of leading, Hornbacher said.

“[Upperclassmen] know what to expect because some have done it for two years or one year,” Hornbacher said. “That is nice because they are letting the freshman know [how things are] by taking ownership of the program.”

Two of those freshmen — Erin Witte and Beth Passman — along with juniors Amy Flores and Kristina Baumann, will be counted on to anchor the Cyclone squad, Hornbacher said.

“Erin Witte as a freshman is a very dynamic player, good in the air and is a great one-on-one player. Amy Flores is also looking very strong on the ball [and] doing a great job of finishing,” Hornbacher said.

“Kristina Baumann and Beth Passman on the flanks have great speed and are dynamic players.”

Hornbacher said she thinks the forwards will be stronger than last year.

Also returning is Kate Kirwan, a redshirt sophomore, Iowa State’s newcomer of the year and co-MVP last season. She was also selected to the Big 12 all-newcomer team by the league coaches.

“I definitely see her in the elite of the Big 12,” Hornbacher said. “She’s gifted on her feet, can take off one-on-one, can strike a ball from a distance, can play with both feet, has great vision and a great passer. She has came back more fit and stronger than anyone on the team. We are really looking forward to a lot of things for her this season.”

The Cyclones know last season’s record makes it easy for opposing teams to overlook the squad.

“We are definitely the underdogs,” Kirwan said. “I think that we are going to come out and surprise a lot of people.”

Laura Boyer, redshirt freshman goalie, said that the ISU soccer team has the potential to show the conference what they are made of because they are viewed as the underdog.

“We really stepped it up. I feel like everybody worked hard in the spring; we have great new freshmen; we are working hard; and I feel like we are going to be a big force in the Big 12,” Boyer said.

The athletes know there is not much room for error when competing in the Big 12.

“Every game we are going to have to go out and just leave it all on the field,” sophomore defender and midfielder Meghan Schlenker said.

“I feel like everybody is built bigger in the Big 12. It’s a stronger conference.”

Senior defender Erin Weldon said early practices have gone well and everyone is working hard to accomplish the teams goals.

“We have a tough schedule but we are also looking forward to it,” Weldon said. “Everyone is fighting and competing with each other and that’s how we get better.”