AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (3-5-1, 0-1 Big 12) fell to Oklahoma State (7-2, 1-0 Big 12) by a score of 4-1 on Thursday evening at the Cyclone Soccer Complex.

Despite posting its most shots in a single game all season and outshooting the Cowgirls with shots on goal alone, Iowa State was unable to convert many attempts into points as Oklahoma State took the Big 12 Opener.

The Cowgirls struck early, as Logan Heasler converted off a pretty feed from Laudan Wilson to give OSU an early 1-0 advantage in the 13th minute of action.

The Cyclones outshot the Cowgirls 10-3 in the first period but were unable to convert attempts into scores as the Cyclones went into the break down one.

The Cowgirls struck again early in the second half, burying their second goal of the match in the 53rd minute. OSU’s Alex Morris recorded her first score of the year.

Iowa State kept battling, rattling off shot after shot until one possession resulted in a corner kick for Mira Emma. In the South corner, Emma played a ball right in front of the net for Leia Khairy, who notched her first score of the year to put the Cyclones back in business, down just one goal in the 68th minute.

The Cyclones would swap Chloe Broughton out for Kristin Boos in the final 10 minutes to put some more offense on the field, but the Cowgirls took advantage and were able to put two more scores on the board in the final minutes to push the score to 4-1 as they claimed a road victory to start conference play.

Salomé Prat and Khairy led the team in shots with four apiece while Avery Gillahan recorded two saves.

On the other side of the field, OSU goalkeeper Grace Gordon tallied eight saves to keep the Cowgirls in front.

Goals 

Iowa State: Leia Khairy (68’)

Oklahoma State: Logan Heausler (13’), Alex Morris (53’), Lexi Lee (87’), Xcaret Pineda (90’)

Assists

Iowa State: Mira Emma

Oklahoma State: Laudan Wilson (3), Alex Morris

Up Next 

After opening the Big 12 slate at home, Iowa State will have its first idle day of the season as the Cyclones don’t play on Sunday. ISU will return to action next week when it embarks on a two-game road trip, beginning with a match at West Virginia on Thursday, September 21. Next Thursday’s match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

Illini’s Herendeen and Hawkeyes’ McClear share weekly accolade after posting top-two finishes at respective tournaments.

Co-Golfers of the Week

Max Herendeen, Illinois

Fr. – Bellevue, Wash. – Bishop Blanchet

• Opened his collegiate career with a runner-up finish against a premier field at the Sahalee Players Championship in Sammamish, Wash., narrowly missing out on medalist honors in a playoff
• Recorded 46 of 54 holes at or below par, highlighted by 14 birdies, and was one of only three competitors to finish under par for the event with a three-round total of 211 (-5)
• Carded rounds of 74, 64 and 73 to help Illinois to an 8-stroke team victory, giving the No. 9 ranked Illini head-to-head wins over No. 2 Arizona State, No. 7 Stanford, No. 11 Texas, 15 Pepperdine, No. 16 Oklahoma State, No. 17 Texas Tech, No. 19 Arizona, No. 23 Duke, and No. 25 Wake Forest, plus host Washington and USC who are both receiving votes in the poll
• Collects his first career Golfer of the Week honor
• Last Illinois Golfer of the Week: Adrien Dumont de Chassart (April 27, 2023)

Mac McClear, Iowa

Gr. – Hinsdale, Ill. – Hinsdale Central

• Captured medalist honors with a three-round total of 204 (-12), helping the Hawkeyes finish second at the ANF Fall Classic at Blue Top Ridge in Riverside, Iowa
• Fired rounds of 70, 67, and 67 to tie Lonnie Neilson for most tournament victories in school history with six and playing his final two rounds of the tournament at 10-under par
• Completed his second come-from-behind win in consecutive years at Blue Top Ridge
• The Academic All-Big Ten honoree collects his fourth career Golfer of the Week honor
• Last Iowa Golfer of the Week: Mac McClear (April 19, 2023)

2023-24 Big Ten Men’s Golfers of the Week

Sept. 7: Hunter Thomson, Jr., MICH

Sept. 14: Max Herendeen, Fr., ILL/Mac McClear, Gr., Iowa

Chicago, Ill- The University of Iowa men’s golf team is set to compete in the Highlands Invitational in Chicago, Illinois, from Sept. 18-19 at

Chicago Highlands Club hosted by Wake Forest.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE 

The 54-hole tournament tees off on Monday and continues Tuesday with 54-holes being played through two days. The start time for the tournament is yet to be announced.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

You can follow this week’s action by visiting golfstat.com for live scoring. Links can be found on the men’s golf schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.

THE FIELD

12 schools will be competing in the Highlands Invitational and will square off at Chicago Highlands Club. The field includes College of Charleston, Duke, Furman, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri,  Penn State, Virginia, Wake Forest, and Yale.

THE COURSE

Spanning 7,490 yards, Chicago Highlands Club is ranked the number one golf course in the state of Illinois and number 14th in the country by GolfDigest. GolfDigest also rated hole nine as one of the best hole designs in America.  Designed by Arthur Hills, who designed more than 200 golf courses, Chicago Highlands Club is a links-style course with a stunning view of the Chicago skyline.

HAWKEYES AT THE ANF FALL CLASSIC

The Hawkeyes are coming off their opening tournament of the fall season. The Hawkeyes placed second as a team at the ANF Fall Classic. Mac McClear won the event with a 12-under par after 54 holes. McClear became the first player to win the tournament twice.

MCCLEAR TIES SCHOOL RECORD

Fifth-year senior Mac McClear tied a school record winning his sixth induvial championship as a Hawkeye, previously set by Lonnie Nelson in 1976. McClear won the ANF Classic shooting a 12-under par after 54 holes. McClear carded a 67, 5-under par, each of his last two rounds. McClear is coming off a season where he had 9 top-25 finishes, co-Big Ten Champion, All-Big Ten Second Team recognition, and Division I PING All-Midwest honors.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa student-athletes John Mickelson and Cy Phillips will serve as honorary captains when Iowa hosts Western Michigan on Saturday on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:40 p.m. (CT) and the game will be televised on Big Ten Network.

The Mickelson and Phillips families came together in 2017 to sell Iowa Wave shirts to help raise money for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. In six years, the community has generously donated approximately $2 million through the purchase of their shirts.

Both players — Mickelson as a senior and Phillips as a freshman — were on Iowa’s 2002 team that won a share of the Big Ten Championship and earned the program’s first Bowl Championship Series invitation (Orange Bowl).

Mickelson joined the Hawkeyes as a walk-on in 1999, which was Kirk Ferentz’s first season as Iowa’s head coach. Mickelson was also on the roster in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The West Des Moines native was a valuable team member in Iowa’s first bowl win under Ferentz (19-16 win over Texas Tech in the 2001 Alamo Bowl).

Phillips was on the Hawkeye roster from 2002-05. The quarterback from Hoxie, Arkansas, was one of two redshirt freshmen selected to the team’s Leadership Council in 2003. Phillips and the Hawkeyes went to four January bowl games during his career (2003 Orange Bowl; 2004 Outback Bowl; 2005 Citrus Bowl; 2006 Outback Bowl).

Mickelson and Phillips will accompany the Iowa captains to midfield for Saturday’s pregame coin toss. They will also be with the Hawkeyes in the locker room before and after the game.

Iowa State senior guard Jarrod Hufford says the Cyclones expect to face a motivated Ohio team on Saturday. The Bobcats are 2-1 and host a Cyclone team that is coming off a loss to Iowa.

ISU beat Ohio 43-10 last season in Ames.

Hufford likes the progress of the offensive line. In two games the Cyclones have not given up a sack.

Hufford feels the offensive line will continue to make strides.

Iowa’s offensive line is making strides through the first two weeks of the season. The Hawkeye offense has scored 37 points in a 2-0 start. A year ago through two games that number was 10. Center Logan Jones is hoping for even more progress this week against Western Michigan.

Jones says they continue to work to limit mistakes.

The Hawkeyes have shown the ability to hit the big play in the first two games.

That’s senior guard Nick DeJong who is confident the offense will continue to make strides.

Iowa is heavily favored but the Hawkeyes say they are not taking Western Michigan lightly as they get ready for Saturday’s game. The Broncos are 2-1 against Kirk Ferentz coached Iowa teams. Senior defensive end Joe Evans.

Middle linebacker Jay Higgins on what they expect to see from Western Michigan.

Western Michigan is 1-1 after a 48-7 loss at Syracuse.

Hawkeye linebacker Nick Jackson says they are preparing for a tough game.

Kickoff Saturday is at 2:30 pm at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa State tight end Easton Dean says the first road game of the season is always a challenge. The Cyclones take a 1-1 record into Saturday’s game at Ohio.

Dean says as a former coach at Toledo Matt Campbell knows kind of opportunity Ohio will view this as a chance to host a power five team.

Dean says despite struggling in the loss to Iowa the offense is making strides under redshirt freshman quarterback Rocco Becht.

Kickoff Saturday is at 11:00 am.

Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor says his players are excited with the opportunity to play a Big Ten foe. Taylor is in his first year as Western Michigan coach after serving as offensive coordinator at Louisiville. The Broncos are 1-1 after a 48-7 loss at Syracuse.

Taylor says the challenge is even more difficult this week.

Taylor says the Broncos need to be ready for a low possession, grind it out game.