Two big defensive errors.

That’s how ISU head coach Rebecca Hornbacher summarized her team’s performance as the Cyclone women’s soccer team fell to DePaul 2-0 in the Cyclones’ home opener in front of a crowd of 350 at the ISU Soccer Complex.

“We need to sharpen things up in practice this week,” Hornbacher said.

With the loss, Iowa State is now 2-1 overall, while DePaul has won three straight contests to go to 3-1.

On a DePaul corner kick five minutes into the contest, the Blue Demons’ Amber Prindle took a shot that hit the crossbar. As the ball went back into the playing area, Margo Sackmaster tried a shot that went wide right.

Iowa State’s best scoring chances in the half came on their second and third corner kicks, but DePaul goalkeeper Lindsey Deason and her defense were able to stop the Cyclones’ attack.

Preseason All-Conference USA team member Julianne Sitch scored DePaul’s first goal of the game in the 43rd minute when she converted on a scrabble six yards out. It was Sitch’s fifth goal of the season. Lauren Spacht assisted.

“I think we put up a strong first half,” DePaul head coach John Wilson said. “We were able, fortunately, to get a goal up, and that really helped us a great deal, and we needed that cushion.”

Hornbacher said miscommunication by the Cyclones’ defense led to the Blue Demons’ first goal.

“Our goalkeeper called for the ball. She was in line to save the ball,” Hornbacher said. “One of our defenders stepped in so it kind of created off-balance in the six-yard box.

“Had our goalkeeper had the ball, the ball wouldn’t have been bouncing around and wouldn’t have ended up in the back of the net.”

In the first half, ISU had 12 fouls while DePaul was whistled seven times. The Blue Demons had an 8-7 advantage on total shots in the half.

DePaul’s defense rose to occasion in the second half to preserve a shutout.

“I thought we came out in the second half and really took it to them,” Hornbacher said. “I thought we created some opportunities today, but it didn’t happen today.”

The Blue Demons’ second goal came in the 55th minute when Spacht kicked a hard roller on the ground past diving ISU goalkeeper Beth Chapman. Amanda Marier assisted on the play.

ISU senior defender Arlene Samuel said the team was adjusting to a new formation in the beginning of the game. She also said the team members are still getting used to one another as a unit.

“We were trying a new formation out and we weren’t used to it but after a while we got used to it and played much better,” she said.

Sophomore forward Kristina Baumann, who returned to action after not playing in last Sunday’s game against Weber State, said the Cyclones kept the pressure on DePaul for 90 minutes of play.

“We had a couple of bad breaks,” said Baumann, who had four shots on goal. “I think we out-played them, but we couldn’t score today.”

Deason finished with nine saves for DePaul while Chapman had five for the Cyclones. Iowa State had an 8-5 advantage on corner kicks.