With almost a week left until the 2018 women’s soccer season begins, the Cyclones are itching for the season to begin.

Three seniors — Riley Behan, Jordan Enga and Emily Steil — will serve as captains for the Iowa State this season.

Women’s soccer coach Tony Minatta has spoken very highly of his team, as well as the team’s captains and seniors.

“The seniors have taken charge and hold players accountable, and they are doing what needs to be done on and off the field to ensure that we can be successful,” Minatta said.

The Iowa State roster is stocked with seven seniors.

Most teams have seniors that take charge and become leaders. The Cyclone seniors have done that.

“It’s a different atmosphere this year,” Minatta said. “[There is] different energy with the team and the senior class [has] taken charge and ownership of the group.”

Last season the Cyclones finished ninth in the Big 12 with a record of 3-12-3 overall and a 1-6-2 record in the Big 12. This season the Cyclones look to improve their record and jump up in the Big 12 standings.

“Last year the results didn’t really show what we put in, so this year we’re going to get after it and everyone is ready for that,” said senior Brooke Tasker.

The Cyclones return 10 of the 11 starters from last season, so this lineup has a lot of experience and leadership.

“They are accountable and willing to call people out, and you need that accountability from the group,” Minatta said.

Having a strong group of seniors can do wonders for a team. In 2016, the Cyclones had seven senior starters and finished in the top fifty in the country.

Minatta described this year’s captains as “very strong, very talented and that they have found that leadership voice.”

While Iowa State’s roster ranges from California to Wisconsin, Minatta’s team also features important pieces from Iowa.

To coach Minatta, having Iowans on his roster means a lot to locals as well as the entire program.

“We have four Iowans who are solidified starters. Which is good for our program and state for locals to see that you can come to this program and make it on the national stage.”

One of the Iowans, who caught Minatta’s eye at fall camp was sophomore forward Courtney Powell.

Powell played in all 18 games last season as a freshman and scored two goals. Powell had a tough spring as she struggled with illnesses but has been able to bounce back well at fall camp.

“She looks really good,” Minatta said. “She’s got the pace, she’s finishing, technically, she’s creative on the ball and she’s taking on players one-on-one a lot better.”

With every team comes strengths and weaknesses. Minatta believes that their back line will be one of their strong points this season. Enga will lead the back line and is described as a driven athlete by Minatta.

To improve as a team on and off the field, the Cyclones knew they had to spend time up in Ames this summer.

“We’ve been here all summer putting in the work and it’s exciting to see it on display in the preseason,” Egna said.

In order for a team to improve, the players, as well as the coaches, need to have the drive to improve if they want to do so.

This season, the Cyclones appear to have that drive to improve.

“We have this fire within us,” senior co-captain Emily Steil said. “We have a lot to prove going into this year. There’s a lot of grit within us, were not willing to give in. There’s a lot of energy in us.”

Despite the fact that the season hasn’t started yet, the Cyclones seem to have formed a bond with one another.

More often than not, successful teams are competitive, but also friends on and off the field. Senior co-captain Riley Behan believes that says that the team has good chemistry at that the team is friends with one another.

“We’re being pushed by some of our best friends every single day,” Behan said. “You look both ways and you see one of your best friends. Having that friendship and knowing that they’ve got your back is awesome.”

Outside of the players, assistant coach Jason Wichman has seen this chemistry first hand at the preseason camp.

That chemistry could be a factor that will pay dividends throughout the season.

“The team chemistry is better than ever right now,” Wichman said. “We had a bit of success two seasons ago and last season we had a setback. Right now the players hungry and the new group of freshman came ready to play.”

On Saturday, the Cyclones will travel to Des Moines to face the Drake Bulldogs in an exhibition game at Drake Stadium at 7 p.m.

Next weekend is the opening weekend of the regular season for the Cyclones as they host South Dakota State on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. and host Missouri on Aug. 19 at 2 p.m.