It was a case of deja vu for the Cyclones women’s soccer team.

In what was supposed to be the Thursday night special that Iowa State needed to save their season, the problems that have plagued the Cyclones all year came back to haunt them in a 1-0 overtime defeat to TCU. 

The first half of Thursday’s matchup with TCU was not exactly filled with fireworks. On a night where the Cyclones really needed a victory to put themselves in position to make the Big 12 Tournament, their first half performance was the opposite of an attacking masterclass. 

Iowa State only managed three shots in the first 45 minutes, and TCU managed eight, but only three of those shots were on target. The Cyclones spent stretches of the first half sitting behind the ball, waiting for the Horned Frogs to attack. The counter-attacks that Iowa State had been trying with regularity over the past six games were not coming off. 

Coach Tony Minatta said the Cyclones were simply making it hard on themselves. 

“We just were not finding feet or finding space,” Minatta said. “I think going forward we had too much overthinking.” 

At times, it looked like the Cyclones were just hitting and hoping. 

The final stats were not pretty either: Iowa State only had four shots in the game while TCU had 21, and only one of those four shots was on target. 

The Cyclones’ backline was resolute, not allowing the Horned Frogs many clear-cut opportunities to score. Sophomore defender Carly Langhurst made her first appearance since suffering a lower leg injury against Minnesota in August. 

While disappointed with the loss, Langhurst was positive after the game. 

“It was a lot of minutes but it was something I’ve been looking forward to,” Langhurst said.  

The lack of a consistent outlet led to the Cyclones continuing to lose possession, and TCU began to turn the screw as the second half progressed. 

Freshman defender Shealyn Sullivan felt that the defense performed well tonight, but felt that the defense was under pressure too often.

“I think at some points we played super super strong,” Sullivan said. “We have to be a lot better going forward, because counters will hurt us [defensively].”

TCU passed the ball around quickly, trying to find a way through, and multiple Iowa State defenders were forced to make goal-saving blocks.

Sophomore defender Merin Mundt’s knee injury dampened the atmosphere in the second half, as the junior defender was carted off the field. The team had to refocus quickly after witnessing an all-too-familiar scene. 

Minatta feared the injury was season-ending.

“It’s difficult because she was one of our best players,” Minatta said.

He added that Sullivan will be filling the void at left back for as long as Mundt is out. 

A short surge at the end of the game showed more intent and attacking cohesion than the Cyclones had shown in the first 75 minutes combined, but another overtime was on the horizon. It was the Cyclones’ seventh overtime game this season.

For a time it seemed as though a 0-0 draw would be the result, but TCU’s freshman midfielder Yazmeen Ryan scored in the 98th minute to end the game.  

Another overtime, and another late defeat.