AMES — Iowa State lost its ninth game of the season to No. 8 TCU in a 4-1 contest Sunday. The loss marks the Cyclones’ third consecutive defeat and their fifth in conference play.
Opening-minute mayhem
Iowa State came out eager to score a goal in the opening minutes of the matchup. A shot by forward Ella Ciardullo in the third minute was saved by TCU goalkeeper Megan Plaschko, the first shot of the game by either team.
“Everybody wants to get after it,” Iowa State head coach Matt Fannon said. “Our women understand the necessity to fight, and we know how eager they are to take a step forward.”
Although the pressure was applied early by the Cyclones, a shot by TCU defender Bella Diorio found the back of the net in the sixth minute to give the Horned Frogs the early lead.
Diorio’s goal was the only successful opportunity the Horned Frogs converted, giving them an edge as the first 45 minutes came to a close.
Second-half blunders
The Cyclones gave up two goals in the opening five minutes of the second half, credited to TCU forward AJ Hennessey in the 47th minute and a second goal for Diorio in the 50th minute. The Horned Frogs added a fourth goal in the 59th minute, credited to forward Caroline Kelly.
“It’s a risk-reward type of moment,” Fannon said. “Our women have given everything that they’ve got. It’s hard to ask more of them than what they’ve already provided.”
Iowa State goalkeeper Avery Gillahan was credited with six saves on the day, beating out TCU’s Plaschko. A diving save by Gillahan in the 86th minute limited the Horned Frogs to a three-goal lead.
Offensive opportunities for Iowa State
Iowa State scored its first and only goal in the 75th minute on a shot taken by senior midfielder Lauren McConnell. The goal was McConnell’s second of the year following an impressive run against BYU on Sep. 30.
“It’s a great feeling to score,” McConnell said. “We felt like we had some momentum and could make a push in the final minutes.”
The goal by McConnell was not only a boost of confidence, but also the first home goal for the Cyclones dating back to Sep. 5 against the Michigan Wolverines. McConnell’s goal not only erases the drought but gives the Cyclones a boost of confidence moving forward.
“As far as we’re concerned, a win Friday means that we’re in the tournament. That’s the space our women are in,” Fannon said. “We need to put all of our energy into Friday.”
The month of October continues to be a struggle for the Cyclones. Iowa State has yet to win a game following the September slate, with only one game remaining in conference play.
With a win in their upcoming matchup, the Cyclones will have a chance at securing the final seed in the Big 12 tournament.
The Cyclones will play their final match of the regular season at home at 6 p.m. Friday against Baylor. The matchup will be streamed on ESPN+.
