The Iowa State women’s soccer team is beginning to learn the ropes. They know how to play. They’ve learned how to score. Now, next week they hope to figure out how to win.

Despite losing to Kansas on Friday with a 3-1 score and Mississippi on Saturday, 7-0, assistant soccer coach Jeff Gruber said the team played with a lot of integrity and a lot of grit.

“We began to push ourselves. In the second half of the second game the girls really dug down deep even though they were tired,” he said.

The newborn Cyclone team celebrated their first goal ever in a game. Jocelyn Nordstrom, a freshman from Victoria, MN, scored ISU’s only goal of the weekend against Kansas, late in the second half.

Gruber said several other Cyclone players performed well. Lauren Muser made key saves in both games. Muser had 12 saves against Kansas and eight against Mississippi.

Sophomore Dawn Weber played a “number of different positions and adapted well,” Gruber said. Weber had one shot on goal during the Mississippi game.

Megan O’Leary and Theresa Daniels came off the bench and also performed well for the team, he said.

“The girls need to stay positive. It will take time, but sooner or later the team will find their niche and start winning some games,” Gruber said. “I know it seems bleak right now. It’s hard starting out.”

Despite an 0-4 record so far this season, the team members are keeping their spirits up. They are sticking together as a unit, working hard and are still growing, Gruber said.

The team is now planning for next week’s game against St. Cloud in Ames. It may be beneficial to play on their home turf.

“It’ll be nice to play at home,” he said.

The Cyclones will be looking for their first win of the season, but they know it will be tough.

“We realize that we still have to improve. We need more offense, which will come with practice,” Gruber said.