The ISU women’s soccer team lost its last game of the season Sunday 2-1 against Minnesota at the ISU Soccer Complex.

The disappointing loss marked the end of the season for the Cyclones, who were kept out of the postseason in a loss against Missouri on Friday that would have secured the last spot in the Big 12 Tournament.

“It’s pretty heartbreaking, but I was very proud of the team,” said ISU head coach Rebecca Hornbacher. “We left it all out on the field.”

Minnesota struck first, in the second period, when midfielder Amanda McMahon found the ball at her feet 10 steps from the Cyclone net. McMahon drilled the ball into the top left corner over the shoulder of the diving ISU goalkeeper Beth Chapman.

Iowa State rallied nine minutes later when junior Erin Weldon drew a penalty in the box after a collision with the Gopher goalkeeper. The Cyclones capitalized on the ensuing penalty kick to tie the game at one when sophomore Deb Benakis lasered a shot into the net, just missing the post.

“I always go to one side,” Benakis said of the goal. “I thought it would get us going, but we just couldn’t put any more away.”

The ISU rally was squelched when Minnesota scored again with eight minutes left. Freshman Haley Lentsch scored with a perfectly placed shot, rung off the bottom of the crossbar and into the Cyclone net, deflecting just beyond the reach of an outstretched Chapman. Kaitlin Neary assisted on the goal.

“It was a pretty hard and direct shot,” Chapman said. “I didn’t really have a chance.”

The Cyclones came close to tying the game with about three minutes left when freshman Jess Villhauer lofted a ball nearly over the head of Marni Prall, the Gopher goalkeeper.

Prall made the save, however, and Minnesota went on to win the game.

The loss marked the end of collegiate soccer for three ISU seniors, who were honored for their careers in a pregame ceremony. Arlene Samuel, Lindsey Lees and Chapman were the defensive leaders for the Cyclones this season and “will truly be missed,” Hornbacher said.

After the game, the team remained huddled on the field as Hornbacher thanked the Cyclones for their hard work over the season. Although the team finished 5-10-4 overall and 2-6-2 in the conference, Hornbacher said she was satisfied.

“The team’s record isn’t indicative of where we are going,” she said. “We are a young team. It’s going to take a couple of seasons to get there.”