5 Key Takeaways On The Iowa State Women's Soccer Program: 2025 Season Review And Future Outlook

The Iowa State University (ISU) Women's Soccer program is currently navigating a highly competitive landscape within the expanded Big 12 Conference, with the latest information from the 2025 season showing a team in transition, focused on development and integrating new talent. As of today, December 17, 2025, the Cyclones are solidifying their foundation under Head Coach Matt Fannon, emphasizing academic excellence and a strong recruiting pipeline to build a consistent contender in the league.

The 2025 season saw the Cyclones competing fiercely against some of the nation's top programs, highlighting moments of brilliance, particularly in conference play. The focus now shifts to leveraging the experience gained by key returning players and the fresh talent brought in through recent recruiting classes to climb the Big 12 standings in the upcoming seasons.

Iowa State Women's Soccer Program Snapshot (2025 Season)

The Iowa State Cyclones women's soccer team, based in Ames, Iowa, competes in the highly competitive Big 12 Conference. The 2025 season served as a crucial building block, providing valuable experience for a young roster facing a challenging schedule. The program continues to prioritize the development of student-athletes both on and off the pitch, as evidenced by recent academic accolades.

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• University: Iowa State University (ISU)
• Team Nickname: Cyclones
• Conference: Big 12 Conference
• Home Field: Cyclone Sports Complex
• Head Coach: Matt Fannon
• Assistant Coach (New): Jaycie (Johnson) Ackerman (Joined June 16, 2025)
• 2025 Overall Record: 4-9-4
• 2025 Big 12 Record: 1-8-2
• 2025 Big 12 Finish: 15th
• Key 2025 Results: Defeated Arizona in the Big 12 Opener; 1-1 draw against Arizona State (Oct. 19, 2025)
• Academic Honors: Six Cyclones named CSC Academic All-District in 2025

Key Players and Impactful Performers in 2025

The 2025 roster featured a mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers who stepped up to lead the team. The offensive production was often spearheaded by a few key players who consistently threatened opponents' defenses.

• Megan Walters: A critical offensive threat, Walters was responsible for a late goal that secured a significant Big 12 opener win against Arizona on September 18, 2025. She is a vital piece of the attacking unit.
• Iisa Elovaara: Mentioned in the 2025 cumulative statistics, Elovaara is a significant contributor to the team's offense, demonstrating her ability to impact the scoreboard.
• Ella Zimmerman: A key defensive and midfield presence, Zimmerman was recognized for her performance, with a notable moment captured against Baylor in 2024.
• Musuai Isaia: Another player listed on the 2025 roster and statistics, Isaia provides depth and skill in the midfield or defense.
• Chloe Broughton & Isabella Agrusso: Both players were listed on the 2024 and 2025 rosters, indicating their role as experienced staples in the squad.

The Matt Fannon Era: Building a Big 12 Contender

Head Coach Matt Fannon, now entering his third season at the helm of the Iowa State soccer program, is focused on a long-term strategy to elevate the Cyclones into a perennial Big 12 contender. Fannon’s vision is centered on disciplined play, strategic recruiting, and fostering a strong team culture. The addition of Jaycie (Johnson) Ackerman as an assistant coach in June 2025 underscores the program’s commitment to strengthening its coaching staff and offensive capabilities, as Ackerman helped oversee the Cyclone offense in her first season.

The Big 12 Conference is one of the most challenging leagues in the nation for women's soccer, and the Cyclones face stiff competition every week. The 2025 Preseason Poll reflected the league’s strength, with teams like TCU, Texas Tech, and BYU leading the rankings. For Iowa State to climb from its 15th-place finish in 2025, Fannon's strategy relies heavily on the success of his recruiting efforts.

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Recruiting Success: The Future of Cyclone Soccer

A key indicator of the program’s upward trajectory is the quality of talent being brought to Ames. The Iowa State coaching staff has been aggressive in securing commitments from top high school and transfer players, aiming to inject immediate impact and long-term potential into the roster. This focus on future talent is crucial for competing against the Big 12 elite.

Recent Signees and Commitments

The program has announced several significant additions that will shape the team in the coming seasons:

• 2025 Additions: Coach Fannon announced the signing of at least four prep players to National Letters of Intent for the 2025 season, including Sophie (full list pending).
• 2026 Signing Class: The future is bright with the announcement of four signees who will join as freshmen for the 2026 season. These players include Aubrey Crawford, Izzy Kapanke, Ella Moersch, and Ryan Weber. This class demonstrates the program's ability to draw national talent from across the country.
• Transfer Portal Utilization: Iowa State has also been active in the transfer portal, welcoming five new Cyclones via this route, a modern strategy for quickly addressing roster needs and adding experienced collegiate players.

These recruiting successes, spanning high school signees and experienced transfers, are vital for improving the team’s overall depth and competitiveness against conference rivals.

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5 Key Takeaways on the Iowa State Women's Soccer Program

The 2025 season and the subsequent off-season activities provide several important insights into the current state and future direction of the Iowa State women's soccer program. These takeaways highlight the areas of focus for Head Coach Matt Fannon and the expectations for the upcoming seasons.

1. Commitment to Academic Excellence

The program’s success extends beyond the pitch, with six players earning CSC Academic All-District honors in 2025. This commitment to the student-athlete model ensures a strong, disciplined culture, which often translates into better performance and resilience during the grueling Big 12 schedule. This academic foundation is a core entity of the program's philosophy.

2. The Challenge of the Expanded Big 12

The Big 12 Conference has expanded and become significantly deeper, making every conference match a major test. The Cyclones’ 15th-place finish in 2025 (4-9-4 overall, 1-8-2 Big 12) illustrates the difficulty of the league. Key matchups against top teams like TCU, Texas Tech, and BYU will continue to be a benchmark for the team's progress. The goal for the next season is a significant climb in the conference standings, aiming for a spot in the Big 12 Tournament.

3. Offensive Flashes and Key Returners

Despite the overall record, the team showed flashes of offensive power, including a 4-1 victory over UNI and a crucial Big 12 win against Arizona. The return of players like Megan Walters and Iisa Elovaara, who demonstrated their scoring ability in 2025, is critical. Their continued development will be essential for increasing the team’s goals-per-game average.

4. Coaching Staff Stability and New Energy

The leadership of Matt Fannon, now more established in the program, combined with the addition of new Assistant Coach Jaycie Ackerman, provides a stable yet energized environment. Ackerman’s specific focus on the offense is expected to help the team convert more scoring opportunities, addressing a common challenge for programs in a rebuilding phase.

5. Strong Recruiting Pipeline

The most promising sign for the future is the quality of the incoming classes, including the four 2026 signees (Aubrey Crawford, Izzy Kapanke, Ella Moersch, Ryan Weber). Successfully recruiting national talent and utilizing the transfer portal (five new transfers) shows that the program is attracting players capable of making an immediate impact and competing at the Big 12 level. These new entities are the foundation for the next era of Iowa State soccer.