Iowa State Falls to Colorado in Big 12 Opener
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State went toe-to-toe with a national contender and came away with nothing to show for it but bruises and frustration.
No. 15 Colorado escaped the Cyclones’ Big 12 opener with a 1-0 win on Thursday night, needing a first-half penalty from captain Reagan Kotschau to survive a rugged, defensive battle in Ames.
Cyclones punch back, but Buffaloes land the only blow
Iowa State (4-3-2, 0-1 Big 12) didn’t blink against the league’s most prolific attack. The Cyclones clogged passing lanes, flew into tackles and forced Colorado (7-1-1, 1-0 Big 12) to grind for every inch.
For 40 minutes, it worked.
Colorado came out firing, launching three shots in the first 10 minutes, but ISU’s back line swallowed them up — two blocked, one drifting wide. On the other end, Morgan Goodman nearly tilted the night the other way midway through the half, testing goalkeeper Brooke Goerish with a firm strike before sending a second effort off target.
That flurry woke Colorado up. The Buffaloes rattled off four shots in a three-minute burst, only to watch Iowa State keeper Eme McClenahan turn them all away, one after another. The Cyclones bent but didn’t break, absorbing wave after wave.
Then the whistle changed everything.
With the clock creeping past 40 minutes, Colorado pushed back into the attacking third. A foul by Makenna Marshall on the edge of the box handed the Buffaloes a penalty. Kotschau stepped up and slid her shot just beyond McClenahan’s outstretched arm, tucking home what proved to be the game-winner at 40:16.
At halftime, the stat sheet reflected the grind: Colorado up 9-3 on shots and 1-0 on corners, Iowa State clinging on thanks to four McClenahan saves — all from that single three-minute siege.
Late surge, cruel finish
The second half belonged more to Iowa State’s ambition than Colorado’s control.
The Cyclones pushed higher, took more risks, and carved out five shots after the break. Goodman, Cassidy Corcione and Izzy Kapanke each finished with two attempts, accounting for all three of ISU’s shots on target. Behind them, Maia Soulis and Danica Lunceford emptied the tank, logging the full 90 minutes as the Cyclones chased an equalizer.
The game’s defining moment for Iowa State arrived in the 85th minute.
Corcione unleashed a thunderous effort from outside the box, a driven shot that looked destined for the top corner. Goerish got just enough of a touch to deflect it onto the crossbar, the ball crashing down into the six-yard area. It fell to Sophie Forester in front of goal — a golden rebound, a split-second chance. Her shot skewed wide, and with it went ISU’s best opportunity to level.
From there, Colorado saw it out. The Buffaloes finished with a 13-8 edge in shots and a 4-0 advantage in corners. McClenahan’s six saves kept Iowa State in it until the final whistle; Goerish answered with three of her own to secure the clean sheet.
Kotschau led all players with five shots, three on target, while 2025 Big 12 Forward of the Year Hope Leyba added three attempts, one on frame. Iowa State, battling to the end, finished with more saves (6-3) but also more fouls (14-11) in a match that never lacked for physical edge.
Colorado left with the points. Iowa State left knowing it had gone stride for stride with a top-15 team — and that in the Big 12, one foul and one kick can redraw the entire night.
