Cyclones Score 4-0 Win In Season Opener
OMAHA, Neb. - The Iowa State soccer team began its 2012 season in commanding fashion Friday with a 4-0 win at Nebraska-Omaha. The Cyclones' four goals were the most in a season-opening match since a 6-1 win over Westmar on Aug. 30, 1996, the first contest in program history.
Iowa State (1-0 overall, 0-0 Big 12 Conference) continued its string of strong season-opening matches. Iowa State has not lost its first game of the season since 2008 and has not surrendered a goal in those tilts. However, Friday night's win was Iowa State's most dominant.
Senior Megan Longobardi got her final campaign off to a stellar start with the team's first goal 24:27 into the match. Junior Amanda Woelfel provided the assist on Longobardi's goal.
"We started off a little slow actually in the first 10 to 15 minutes," Iowa State head coach Wendy Dillinger said. "We started to pick it up a little bit, and the two quick goals were definitely a momentum boost.
"On the first goal, Amanda Woelfel played a beautiful free kick across the box and Megan out-jumped everyone and headed it back post. It was a really nice goal."
Junior Emily Goldstein quickly followed 19 seconds later with a strike at the 24:46 mark to give Iowa State a 2-0 edge.
The Cyclones took their 2-0 lead into the break. Despite the two-goal lead, Dillinger said she wanted more out of her team in the second half.
"We talked about keeping the game simple," Dillinger said. "We wanted to play quick and let the ball do the work. After a somewhat frantic first half, we played much better in the second half."
Iowa State did not relent in the second half, as Cyclone junior Jennifer Dominguez gave them a three-goal cushion 58:51 into the match. Goldstein provided the assist on Dominguez's goal, giving the Orange County, Calif., a three-point evening in just 31 minutes of action.
"Emily played well tonight and helped set the tone," Dillinger said. "She had a crafty goal that was very smart. She played a beautiful ball across the goal to Jenn Dominguez who headed it in for our third goal."
Nebraska-Omaha (0-1 overall) transfer Julia Adler finished the scoring off with 18:50 remaining against her former team in her Cyclone debut. Junior Meredith Skitt was credited with the assist on Adler's goal.
Junior Maddie Jobe started in goal for Iowa State and did not have to make a save in 63:16 minutes of action. Sophomore Andrea Swanson spelled Jobe in goal for the final 26:44 minutes and also did not have to make a stop.
Iowa State accomplished one of Dillinger's goals for the match by scoring early goals so the team could substitute freely to rest players for Sunday's match. Not one Cyclone played the full match, as sophomore defender Lindsay Frank logged the most minutes with 85.
"We wanted to get ahead and have a chance to get people minutes to see everybody," Dillinger said. "With Creighton not playing tonight, we wanted to try to avoid people getting heavy legs if we could get some early goals."
The Cyclones held a commanding 18-1 edge on shots in the match, with 11 being on goal.
The Cyclones play at Creighton on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT in their next match.
