AMES, Iowa – It was a busy afternoon at the Cyclone Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon, as Iowa State (2-1-2, 0-0 Big 12) dominated North Dakota (5-3, 0-0 Summit) by a score of 4-0 as four different Cyclones notched goals and the team won its first home game of the season.

The Cyclones scored twice in each half, using a pair of penalty kicks to extend the lead and handle the Fighting Hawks. The first half featured a pair of goals that happened within 20 seconds of each other, as Regan John scored at the 18:56 mark before Ella Zimmerman converted a PK at the 19:17 mark. Taylor Spitzer converted a PK of her own in the early parts of the second stanza, while freshman Sophie Forrester recorded her first career goal late on a breakaway.

Zimmerman, Spitzer and Morgan Goodman were tied for the team lead with three shots apiece, and each placed two on target. Off the bench, Gili Johnson also placed two shots on goal, but saw both handled by the UND keeper. Both Spitzer and Forrester picked up their first assists of the year, while Zimmerman was the only Cyclone to play the entire game.

In the net, Kasey Cannistraro pitched 52 shutout minutes before Musuai Isaia handled the remaining 38 ticks as they combined for a clean sheet. Cannistraro and Isaia each recorded a save on the day.

For the Hawks, four players recorded a pair of shots. Charlie Basinet and Jessica Machovec were the only two to place shots on goal. Grace Miller tallied seven saves and allowed four goals – the most she’s given up in a game this season.

In Iowa State’s two meetings with North Dakota, the Cyclones have beaten the Fighting Hawks 4-0 each time. The Cyclones led in total shots (19-10) and corner kicks (7-1) while UND led in saves (7-2).

Iowa State’s defense shined in the first half, as the Cyclones held the Fighting Hawks to zero shots. Complimenting the team’s defense was an offense that found its groove early, scoring a pair in the first 20 minutes of action.

Spitzer brought a ball down the middle of the pitch and fed it to the right wing to Forrester who sent it to the middle for John to bury in the back left of the net to put the Cyclones on top. For John, it was her first career goal, while for Forrester, it was her first career assist.

Not even 20 seconds later, the Cyclones had another run going, as Isabella Agrusso found herself with a chance in the UND box. A foul on Basinet in the box led to a PK, which ISU had Zimmerman take. After failing to convert a PK earlier in the year, Zimmerman buried it and put ISU up 2-0 while notching her first score of the year.

ISU kept up the pressure for the remainder of the half, attempting five more shots in the final 25 minutes, but would enter the break clinging to its 2-0 advantage. At the break, ISU held a 10-0 shot advantage and a 3-0 corner kick edge.

North Dakota registered its first shot of the game in the 48th minute, only to see it saved by Cannistraro. ISU responded quickly, as Agrusso was again fouled in the box, leading to another penalty kick. This time, Spitzer took the try and converted to record her 16th goal of her career and first as a Cyclone.

Now up 3-0, ISU didn’t make many more runs after the second penalty kick, but in the 77th minute, an opportunistic Forrester found a way to score. Taking advantage of a lay Hawk pass, Forrester fought off two UND athletes to fire a left-footed shot into the back of the net to record her first career score and make it 4-0.

The Cyclones would go on to win the contest by a score of 4-0 and move back over .500 on the year.

On the game:

“These games are always potential banana skins if you don’t show up or you have a couple moments where you don’t take care of the game … letting your foot off the gas. While we weren’t fantastic for 90 minutes, we did all the things we needed to do. It was a good job by everyone.”

Iowa State: Regan John – 18:56 (1), Ella Zimmerman – 19:17 (1), Taylor Spitzer – 50:13 (1), Sophie Forrester – 76:19 (1)

North Dakota: N/A

Iowa State: Taylor Spitzer (1), Sophie Forrester (1)

North Dakota: N/A

Iowa State returns to action next Thursday, Sept. 11, when it travels to Cedar Falls to take on the UNI Panthers. Next week’s contest is scheduled to kick off at 4 pm and will be streamed live on ESPN+.