AMES, Iowa – Iowa State was handed its first loss of the 2024 campaign Sunday evening, falling to Creighton, 2-1.

In what was a super physical match, the Bluejays (1-1) grinded out a victory over the Cyclones (1-1), earning coach Jimmy Walker his first win of his Creighton tenure. Coach Fannon was denied his 100th career victory by his old friend, and successor at Bowling Green.

The match was a brawl from the start, as the first half featured 29 fouls between the two squads. ISU was the beneficiary of early Creighton aggressiveness, drawing a penalty kick in the 12th minute of play.

Magdalena Keck delivered, as the junior snuck one past Creighton keeper Alyssa Zalac to give the Cyclones an early edge.

Other than the early PK, Creighton commanded the flow, rattling off eight shots while holding the Cyclones to just one. However, the Bluejays would go into the half down, trailing 1-0.

The second half was more of the same, a physical battle on the pitch where both teams ratcheted up the intensity. The second half featured three yellow cards and a fair share of whistles and stoppages in play.

Cyclone keeper Avery Gillahan had held firm in the first half, but an early second half push from Creighton finally broke through. A first corner set resulted in a second for the Bluejays, as Tilly Thomas took a rebound and buried it in the net to tie things up.

Iowa State responded with pressure in its attacking third, putting two shots on the Creighton keeper, but to no avail.

In the 74th minute, Creighton converted a second score, as Azumi Manriki pushed one in off an Andrine Westlie feed to give CU the edge.

Iowa State would be held to its lone goal the rest of the way, falling to Creighton by a goal and suffering its first loss of the season.

For Iowa State, Keck earned her second goal of the season, marking her first multi-goal campaign of her career. Gillahan, Isabella Agrusso, Ella Zimmerman, and Adelaide Wolfe played the full 90 for the Cyclones.

Goals
Iowa State: Magdalena Keck – 12’ (2)
Creighton: Tilly Thomas – 48’ (1), Azumi Manriki – 74’ (2)

Assists
Iowa State: N/A
Creighton: Andrine Westlie (1)

Up Next
Iowa State will be back on the pitch next Thursday, Aug. 22, when it embarks on its first road test of the season. The Cyclones will head to Des Moines to face Drake. Thursday’s game is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.