AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (4-7-1, 1-3 Big 12) earned its first Big 12 victory of the season on Thursday night, as a game-winning-goal from Salomé Prat in the 86th minute lifted the Cyclones over Houston (6-5-1, 0-4 Big 12) in the two schools’ first-ever meeting.

Thursday’s action started slow, as the two teams combined for just one shot in the first 20 minutes of action. After both squads settled in, Iowa State found itself being the aggressor in the latter part of the first half.

The Cyclones outshot Houston 5-2 in the first stanza and drew six corner kicks to UH’s one but were unable to convert chances into points, as each team would enter the break scoreless.

Houston Came out of halftime firing, as Aryanna Jimison rifled a shot from way downtown that just missed the net but set the offensive tone for the Cougars.

A few minutes later, Jimison converted on a deep shot off a free kick, squeaking one past Avery Gillahan to put the Cougars up 1-0. Houston would be the more aggressive side in the second half, outshooting the Cyclones 9-6 and earning a 5-0 corner kick advantage.

Though Houston had the statistical advantage, Iowa State converted where it mattered. The Cyclones chipped away at the Houston backline, eventually breaking through on a free kick in the 72nd minute. Mira Emma pooched a ball into the box to Lauren Hernandez, who fed it to Olvia Edwards for the game-tying goal.

Edwards picked up her first goal of the season while Hernandez notched her first assist and Emma tallied her third assist.

Iowa State’s late-game mentality shone through in the final ten minutes as a few chances at the net finally paid off in the 86th minute. After handling a Houston run, Hanna Reid launched a ball downfield, hitting Prat in stride, who snuck one past the Houston keeper to give the Cyclones the advantage.

Prat recorded her third career game-winning goal as the Cyclones earned three points in the Big 12 standings.

Fannon’s Thoughts 

“We’ve played really well for so long, and it’s been difficult to be in moments where we know we should have won the game, and we found ways not to. I was confident we weren’t going to do that tonight, even when we went down one-nil in a really crazy way. The fight and the spirit and the dedication and the ability to be in a game as tight as this and to come back and win it shows a really incredible development in our team.”

Goals 

Iowa State: Olivia Edwards (1) – 72’, Salomé Prat (3) – 86’

Houston: Aryanna Jimison (2) – 50’

Assists

Iowa State: Lauren Hernandez (1), Mira Emma (3), Hanna Reid (1)

Houston: Cordelia Cross (1)

Up Next 

Iowa State will be back in action on Monday, October 2, when it hosts sixth-ranked BYU. The Cyclones and Cougars will meet for the first time ever, and BYU will be the second ranked program to grace the Cyclone Soccer Complex this season. Monday’s match is set to start at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.