AMES, Iowa – Following a two-game road trip that featured stops at both Baylor and Texas, Iowa State returns to the Cyclone Soccer Complex for a Thursday night matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks. Thursday’s match is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

ISU (4-10-1, 1-6 Big 12) looks to secure some critical points in the Big 12 standings against the Jayhawks with just three matches left in league play. Kansas (3-6-6, 0-5-2 Big 12) has dropped three straight, having not won a match since August 31, and is winless in league play.

Iowa State will wear pink uniforms on Thursday, as part of its annual pink match.

The Matchup: Iowa State (4-10-1, 1-6 Big 12) vs. Kansas (3-6-6, 0-5-2 Big 12)
Where: Cyclone Soccer Complex // Ames, Iowa
When: October 12 – 6 p.m.
Watch: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Live Stats: cyclones.com

Leading the Cyclones
The Cyclones and Jayhawks will meet for the 28th consecutive season, and the Cyclones are 1-1-2 against Kansas in the last four meetings.

Seniors Salomé Prat and Mira Emma each notched their fifth goal of the season last week, tying for the team lead in goals scored. Prat’s came on her third career brace against Baylor, while Emma’s came off a Prat feed against Texas.

Emma leads all Cyclones in points (13), assists (3), game-winning goals (2) and is tied for the team lead in goals. The fifth-year senior captain notched her second career brace in the team’s outing against Portland State earlier this season.

Goalkeeper Avery Gillahan has tallied 41 saves and has faced over 190 shots through 14 contests. Gillahan recorded her second career shutout against Portland State earlier this season and has been a constant between the sticks.

Scouting Kansas
Despite its record, Kansas holds a better RPI than the Cyclones and has only lost one match by more than one goal, which was its last outing – an 0-2 loss to Houston.

Kansas boasts a balanced scoring attack which is spearheaded by Hallie Klanke. Klanke has a team-high four scores, while five Jayhawks have a pair of goals to their names. Klanke not only leads the team in goals but also in assists (5).

In the net, Melania Pasar gets the nod for the Jayhawks. Pasar has the second most saves in the conference (61) and has recorded the third-best save percentage of all Big 12 players (.803).

From the Notebook 

• Iowa State leads the Big 12 in shot accuracy, placing 54% of its attempts on goal. That’s good enough for the 27th-highest ranking in the country.
• Three Big 12 programs are ranked in the Coaches Poll this week: Texas Tech is sixth, and BYU is eighth, while TCU holds down No. 21.
• Senior Mira Emma ranks in the top ten in ISU history in points, goals, game-winning goals and assists.
  • Should Emma play in every game the rest of the season, she will become the school leader in games played.
• Avery Gillahan has handled the majority of goalkeeping responsibilities this season. Through 15 matches, Gillahan has a pair of shutouts and 41 saves.
  • Gillahan earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors on August 23rd for her performances during the first week of the season.

Series History
Iowa State and Kansas will meet for the 30th time on Thursday night in a series that Kansas holds the advantage in with a 20-6-3 record. The Cyclones are 5-8-2 against KU at home and are 1-0-1 in the last two meetings in Ames. Iowa State dropped its previous matchup with Kansas last season, 0-2, in Lawrence.

Up Next
Iowa State will next play in Manhattan this Sunday, October 15, when it takes on Kansas State. The Cyclones and Wildcats will kick off from the Little Apple at 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

As always, home matches are FREE to attend at the Cyclone Soccer Complex.