Iowa State Falls 1-0 to No. 15 Colorado in Big 12 Opener
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State went toe-to-toe with a national contender, but one moment on the edge of the box turned a gritty upset bid into a narrow 1-0 loss to No. 15 Colorado in Thursday night’s Big 12 opener.
The Cyclones (4-3-2, 0-1 Big 12) smothered one of the league’s most dangerous attacks for long stretches, matching Colorado’s physicality and refusing to break in open play. The Buffaloes (7-1-1, 1-0 Big 12) still found a way.
It came from the spot.
One whistle, one kick, one difference
Colorado had pressed from the opening minutes, firing three shots in the first 10 as it tried to impose its ranking on the night. Iowa State’s back line stood firm, blocking two efforts while another drifted wide, setting the tone for a defensive battle.
The Cyclones then carved out chances of their own. Midway through the first half, Morgan Goodman twice found space, forcing a save with her first look before sending the second off target. That brief attacking spell jolted the home side into life, but it also woke up Colorado.
The Buffaloes responded with a flurry—four shots in a three-minute window—only to see goalkeeper Eme McClenahan slam the door each time. She turned away everything, keeping the match scoreless and the crowd engaged as the half ticked toward the break.
Then came the turning point.
With the ball back in Colorado’s attacking third around the 40-minute mark, a foul by Makenna Marshall right on the edge of the box handed the visitors a penalty. Captain Reagan Kotschau stepped up and drove her effort just beyond the reach of McClenahan’s outstretched arm at 40:16. One clean strike. One ruthless finish. One goal that would stand as the winner.
By halftime, Iowa State trailed 1-0 and 9-3 in shots, with Colorado also holding a 1-0 edge in corners. McClenahan had already piled up four saves, all in that frantic first-half barrage.
Cyclones push late, crossbar denies equalizer
Iowa State refused to fade.
The Cyclones grew into the second half, piecing together more possession and firing five shots after the break. The back line stayed organized, and the midfield squeezed space, limiting Colorado to four second-half attempts and keeping the deficit at one.
The best chance to level it came in the 85th minute, and it was nearly spectacular.
Cassidy Corcione unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box that seemed destined for the net. Colorado keeper Brooke Goerish got just enough of a touch to deflect it onto the crossbar, the ball rattling back into play instead of in. The rebound dropped to Sophie Forester in front of goal, but her follow-up flew wide, and with it went Iowa State’s last clear opening.
Colorado saw out the final minutes to protect the 1-0 lead and secure a clean sheet behind Goerish’s three saves.
Numbers behind the battle
Kotschau drove Colorado’s attack all night, registering a game-high five shots and putting three on frame to go with the decisive penalty. 2025 Big 12 Forward of the Year Hope Leyba added three shots, one on target, as the Buffaloes leaned on their stars to generate pressure.
For Iowa State, Goodman, Corcione and Izzy Kapanke each finished with two shots, and all three put one on goal. The Cyclones ended with eight shots to Colorado’s 13 and were out-cornered 4-0, but they forced the Buffaloes to work for every look.
McClenahan played the full 90 in net, collecting six saves and keeping Iowa State within striking distance throughout. Defenders Maia Soulis and Danica Lunceford also went the distance in a bruising contest that saw the Cyclones whistled for 14 fouls to Colorado’s 11.
On the stat sheet, Colorado owned the slight attacking edge. On the scoreboard, one penalty was all that separated a ranked power from a team that looked ready to make life difficult for the rest of the Big 12.
