AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State soccer program will officially open the 2023 campaign on Thursday, August 17, against future Big 12 opponent Arizona. The Cyclones and Wildcats are set to square off at 6 p.m. and the match will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

This marks the second straight season that Arizona and Iowa State will face off in the opening match of the regular season. Last year’s lid-lifter saw the Wildcats secure a 2-1 victory over ISU in the desert.

The Cyclones enter regular season play after completing a 2-0 preseason which featured wins over both UNI (2-1) and Minnesota (1-0).

The Matchup: Iowa State vs. Arizona

Where: Cyclone Soccer Complex // Ames, Iowa

When: August 17 – 6 p.m.

Watch: Big 12 Now on ESPN+

Live Stats: cyclones.com

What To Watch For 

• Iowa State will open up the 2023 season on a brand new playing surface at the Cyclone Soccer Complex on Thursday, as ISU made the offseason swap from a turf field to natural grass.
• The Cyclones will look to implement 11 newcomers into the fray this season, as five freshmen and six transfers will look to find their place in the rotation.
• The Cyclones will have a new face in the net for the first time in since 2019, as program legend Jordan Silkowitz was drafted into the NWSL in January.
• ISU has just one returning player who started all 17 games last season in Mira Emma and only four players (Mira Emma, Lauren Hernandez, Hanna Reid, Sophia Thomas) competed in every outing.
• The Cyclones lost 50% of their scoring production from 2022, so finding offensive production and contributors will be paramount.
• The Cyclones return five players who notched goals in 2022 (Emma, Hernandez, Salomé Prat, Leia Khairy and Thomas).
• Besides the new player faces on the sidelines, ISU fans may also notice a new pair of coaches as Kathleen Duwve (assistant/goalkeepers coach) and Olivia Seddon (soccer development coordinator) joined the team over the summer.
  • Though not a new face, CC McGrath was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach in the summer.

Series History 

Iowa State and Arizona will meet for the fourth time on Thursday, with the Wildcats holding a 2-1 series advantage. This will be the second time Arizona has visited Ames, with the previous visit coming back in 2004. Iowa State is 0-1 when hosting the Wildcats at home.

Up Next
Following the final exhibition match, Iowa State will turn its attention to the regular season and prepare for Arizona. The Cyclones and Wildcats are set to square off on August 17 at 6 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. 

Drake football coach Todd Stepsis hopes the ends of last season carries over to this fall. After starting 2022 with an 0-8 record the Bulldogs won their final three games, including a win over a Butler team that was trying to lock up a spot in the FCS playoffs.

Stepsis credits team character for rescuing the end of last season.

The Bulldogs have always played a challenging non-conference schedule and this season is no different.

From 2004 to 2019 Drake enjoyed 14 winning seasons and three Pioneer Football League titles but the program has struggled the past two seasons since the pandemic. Improvement begins with an offense that averaged less than 18 points per game a year ago.

Drake opens September second at North Dakota.

The race is on at Iowa State where the Cyclones are in search of a new starting quarterback. Redshirt freshman Rocco Becht, junior college transfer Tanner Hughes and true freshman J.J. Kohl are competing to replace Hunter Dekkers, who was charged in a gambling probe. Offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase has been impressed with all three.

Scheelhaase says all three have limited experience in the program.

Scheelhaase says while they are different from a physical standpoint their styles are similar.

The Cyclones open at home on September second against Northern Iowa.

Irving, Texas – The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2023 Spring Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The following student-athletes have been selected as award winners for their respective sports based on the votes of each sport’s respective head coaches.

Big 12 Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Braden Barry, West Virginia, Jr., Louisville, Ky.

• Finance major with a 3.73 GPA who participated in every contest this season.
• Hit .290 with eight home runs, 19 doubles, four triples, 44 runs batted in and 57 runs scored.
• Three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2021-23) and a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection.

Big 12 Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Johnny Keefer, Baylor, RJr., San Antonio, Texas

• Major in Accounting with a 3.68 GPA and participated in every tournament this season.
• Averaged 71.62 strokes per round with five top-10 finishes, and made the cut at the NCAA Championships.
• Four-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree (2020-23) who earned a CSC Academic All-District nod in 2023.

Big 12 Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Anna Dong, Texas Tech, Sr., Guangzhou, China

• Posted a 4.00 GPA while majoring in Sport Management and participated in 75% of tournaments.
• Averaged 73.67 strokes per round, including a tie for medalist honors at the Columbia Classic.
• Named to Academic All-Big 12 teams five times (2019-23).

Big 12 Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Kaitlin Knifton, Texas, Gr., Austin, Texas

• Graduate in sport communication with a 4.00 GPA and 100 percent participation.
• Named Big 12 Rower of the Year as she led Texas to a Big 12 Championship.
• Five-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2019-23) and four-time CRCA National Scholar-Athlete (2020-23).

Big 12 Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Grace Lyons, Oklahoma, RSr., Peoria, Ariz.

• Held a 3.89 GPA while pursuing an MBA and 89 percent participation this season.
• Hit .331 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs, earning her third consecutive Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors as the Sooners went 61-1 to win the Big 12 regular season title, the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship and the NCAA Championship.
• A three-time CSC Academic All-American (2021-23) and a five-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree (2019-23).

Big 12 Men’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Eliot Spizzirri, Texas, Sr., Greenwich, Conn.

• Majoring in finance with a 3.79 GPA and competed in every match this season.
• Named ITA National Player of the Year and Big 12 Player of the Year, posting a 36-5 singles record and reaching the NCAA Championship match in doubles.
• Three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree (2021-23) and 2023 CSC Academic All-American.

Big 12 Women’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Miska Kadleckova, Iowa State, Jr., Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

• Maintained a 3.76 GPA as an kinesiology and health major with 100 percent participation in contests this season.
• Earned All-Big 12 second team honors in both singles and doubles, posting records of 29-11 in singles and 30-10 in doubles.
• Three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete (2021-23) and three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2021-23).

Big 12 Men’s Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Yusuf Bizimana, Texas, Jr., London, England

• Holds a 3.23 GPA while majoring in advertising with 100 percent participation.
• Was the NCAA Champion in the indoor 800m and was runner-up in the outdoor 800m.
• Two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2022-23).

Big 12 Women’s Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Julien Alfred, Texas, Gr., Castries, St. Lucia

• A graduate student in youth and community studies with a 3.34 GPA and 71% participation.
• Named Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year after winning five national titles and helping UT win the outdoor NCAA Championship.
• Earned USTFCCA National Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors.

The Big 12 Conference established its Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 2012-13. A recipient is named in each conference-sponsored sport. Every Big 12 institution nominates one individual per sport with the winners selected by a vote of the league head coaches for that sport, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (athletic and academic standing), have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20 percent of the team’s scheduled contests and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution.

Northern Iowa volleyball coach Bobbi Peterson says versatility will be a strength heading into the new season. The Panthers lost five seniors off last year’s team that finished 27-8 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Peterson is entering her 24th season as head coach and has led the Panthers to 16 trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Peterson has put together another challenging non-conference schedule.

UNI opens with tournaments at Western Michigan, Creighton and Texas A&M.

The Panthers play Villanova at the Western Michigan Tournament on August 25th. UNI is the preseason favorite in the MVC volleyball poll. Drake has been picked to finish second.

Today, the Big 12 Conference announced that three-time Grammy-award winning artist Nelly will perform at halftime of the 2023 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship game. Nelly will be joined by the marching bands of both participating teams. Additional entertainment and fan experience enhancements for the Football Championship game will be announced at a later date.

“We are thrilled to announce Nelly will be joining our school’s marching bands to perform at the first-ever Big 12 Football Championship halftime show,” said Commissioner Brett Yormark. “The Big 12 is committed to living at the intersection of sports and culture and introducing Championship enhancements that are best in class.”

Nelly is no stranger to the gridiron – the nine-time Billboard Music Award-winner has performed in the halftime shows of Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XXXVIII. Additionally, Nelly performed at halftime of the 2022 NFL Divisional Playoff matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, and made his acting debut in the 2005-remake of “The Longest Yard”.

Last Saturday, tickets went on sale for the 2023 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship. New for this year, tickets are available across nine price levels ranging from $99-$350. They can be purchased online only via SeatGeek at https://big12.us/3i564VW.

The 2023 Big 12 Football Championship Game will kickoff at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, December 2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.