It’s a big weekend for the Iowa State women’s soccer team. 

With a key player returning from injury, two seniors featuring in their final home games, and a new attacking mindset, there are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on. 

First up this weekend is TCU on Thursday night. 

The Cyclones (2-11-2) host the (10-4-1) Horned Frogs six days after a 4-0 defeat at the hands of West Virginia. With a crucial trio of games ahead in their quest to extend their season, the Cyclones are treating this game as a must-win. 

The Horned Frogs come into Thursday’s game riding the high of a 2-0 home victory over Oklahoma that kept them fourth in conference play at 4-1-1. TCU is only 59th in RPI rankings, so the Frogs will likely have to continue to pick up wins to keep their hopes of an NCAA tournament bid alive. 

TCU is led this season by the goal-scoring exploits of senior forward Allison Ganter, who has scored five goals and assisted on four others. The Horned Frogs have scored 27 goals on 246 shots over their 15 regular season games, with a shot conversion rate of 10.97 percent. They are tied for second in the Big 12 in goals per game at 1.8, so the Cyclones will have to be wary. 

In their two previous home games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, the Cyclones have shown more attacking intent and willingness to get forward, something that has at times been absent from the side. 

The Cyclones sit at 10 goals from 15 games and, according to coach Tony Minatta, the Cyclones must be more willing to “fire away” when the opportunity presents itself. 

With their backs against the wall, junior defender Riley Behan is confident that the Cyclones can keep an attacking mentality and not lose their defensive solidity.

“We’ve been working hard to make sure we maintain on the defensive side, but also get numbers forward into the attack,” Behan said.

Keep an eye the return of sophomore defender/midfielder Carly Langhurst to the Cyclones’ backline. Langhurst was a standout for Iowa State in the first four games of the season, but she has been out for nearly two months after breaking her fibula against Minnesota. 

Minatta was optimistic about the squad’s outlook with the impending return of Langhurst, while also expressing caution over the process of re-integrating returning players into the squad without disrupting chemistry. 

“It’s been a long road for [Langhurst] to get back in,” Minatta said. “When you try to integrate players, it disrupts some chemistry.”

With returning players and a new desire to attack, there are reasons for the Cyclones to feel they can win this game. The athleticism that Iowa State possesses is comparable to TCU, and according to senior midfielder Stella Maris Strohman, the team is familiar with the formation and style that the Horned Frogs intend to play with. 

That familiarity will be crucial for the Cyclones in their attempts to contain TCU and push toward a spot in the Big 12 Tournament.

The final storyline that fans should keep an eye on is the senior class making its final home appearances for the Cyclones. 

For Strohman and fifth-year senior defender Brianna Johnson, Thursday represents their second to last chance to make an impact at the Cyclone Sports Complex. Unfortunately for Iowa State, fellow senior and defender Sasha Stinson is out for the year with a knee injury and will not make an appearance. 

Strohman, an Ames native, admitted that this weekend will be full of mixed emotions. 

“It’s sad but it’s also an opportunity to leave our mark on the field,” Strohman said. “Your four years are being wrapped up in these last few games.”