Iowa State soccer is set to kick off Big 12 play versus the Arizona Wildcats at 6 p.m. Thursday. The Cyclones enter this match with a record of 3-1-2, while the Wildcats are 5-3. 

In Iowa State’s previous match, it won 4-1 versus UNI. The Cyclones were down 1-0 through the entire first half, but a second-half scoring barrage sunk the Panthers. 

In that match, Iowa State scored three goals in five minutes. Redshirt junior defender Ella Zimmerman led the offensive onslaught with the first Cyclone goal. 

Senior forward Taylor Spitzer netted the second Iowa State goal. It was Spitzer’s second goal of the season, tied for second most on the team. 

Zimmerman scored the third goal, this time assisted by sophomore midfielder Morgan Goodman. The goal was Zimmerman’s third of the season, leading the team. 

Goodman appeared on the stat sheet again, only this time it was to score the final goal for the Cyclones. Her goal was the second she had scored this season, tied for second with Spitzer. 

With the offense on fire, Iowa State is looking in top form ahead of its match versus Arizona. Iowa State head coach Matt Fannon credited the new players who have stepped in with Iowa State’s early-season success. 

“I think we’ve had a lot of new players that we’ve been plugging in, and, for the most part, everyone really understands our game model at this point,” Fannon said. “So if we keep everyone healthy, we’ll be alright.”

The talented transfers and freshman class have made their mark early this year. Namely, Spitzer, who spent three years at Northwestern State prior to joining this Cyclone squad. She has two goals and one assist, totaling five points so far this season. Spitzer’s contributions have added another layer to Iowa State’s offense. 

Of the freshman class, forward Sophie Forrester has made a name for herself early on. She has one goal and one assist, totaling three points in six career games. Despite her relative lack of college experience, it has not stopped her from making an immediate impact. 

With the Wildcats looming large as the first Big 12 opponent of the season, Fannon is unfazed and prepares his team like all their games before this. 

“We’ve kind of treated it like every game,” Fannon said. “We physically prepare everybody. We get in the scout reports and talk about what we need to do. Training over the next couple of days is 100% focused on us, and what we can do within this next game to be able to get a win.”

A big part of the game plan against Arizona will be winning the set-piece battle. Zimmerman has played a crucial part in Iowa State’s set-piece success.

“All three of Zimmerman’s goals have come from set pieces,” Fannon said. “And we know what a massive deal it is to get that. So having someone like her, that’s so influential in both penalty areas, is a really big and fantastic thing for our team without a doubt.” 

Iowa State plays Arizona in the Cyclone Sports Complex at 6 p.m. Thursday. The game will be live-streamed on ESPN+.