After winning their season opener against South Dakota State, the Cyclones have gone 0-4-1. Head coach Tony Minatta has made some adjustments to the lineup.

Freshmen Taylor Bee and Kara Privitera made the starting XI against Colorado

So far this season, freshmen Taylor Bee and Kara Privitera have made an impact for the Cyclones. Coming into the Colorado game, Bee and Privitera had played in all five previous games.

Midfielder Kara Privitera has one goal this season that came against Purdue, and she has put two of her three shot attempts on goal so far

In the Denver game, the Cyclones struggled, and the Pioneers got off to a fast start. However, midway through the first half, some adjustments were made as the Cyclones made some substitutions.

Two Cyclones substitutes that made a significant impact were Bee, as well as Privitera.

“Taylor Bee and Kara Privitera really ignited the team through their energy and toughness, and we started playing better,” Minatta said in a press release.

Those efforts were enough for both of them to crack the starting lineup for the Cyclones against Colorado.

While it is early in the season, seeing two true freshmen crack the starting XI could be something to note as the season rolls on.

Cyclones are struggling out of the gate in their games

In the Denver and Colorado games, the Cyclones struggled to get things going early on. The Cyclones were able to adjust in the Denver game with Minatta making some key substitutions midway through the first half.

However, in the Colorado game, the Buffaloes scored two goals in the first eight minutes as the Buffaloes went on to win 3-1.

In four of their six games this season, the Cyclones have been held scoreless in the first half. The Cyclones are 0-3-1 when they’ve been held scoreless in the first half so far this season.

Despite losing 3-1 to Colorado, the Cyclones showed some toughness

The Cyclones were down 2-0 in the first eight minutes of the game. They could have given up and let Colorado score many more goals and let Colorado hold them scoreless. However, the Cyclones kept fighting.

The Cyclones had only one shot on goal in the first half. In the second half, the Cyclones had four shots on goal.

Even after the Buffaloes held a 3-0 in the final 30 minutes of the game, the Cyclones continued to play hard.

After being held scoreless for 89 minutes of the games, senior Klasey Medelberg broke through and scored a goal for the Cyclones. Until that minute, Colorado had not allowed a goal all season.

This close-knit team had been in close games throughout this season until they faced the Buffaloes.

The Cyclones put one in the back of the net in the final minute and a half of a game where they could have quit, which shows that Iowa State has a lot of fight in them. The Cyclones still have a lot of work to do, though.