There were times last season, Iowa State soccer coach Tony Minatta admits, that he and his team had to learn to be mentally tough. It was a lesson that did not come easy, either.
The team started 2014 with a 6-3 record, but lost eight of its final nine games. The Cyclones scored only four goals while allowing 18 over that same span and dealt with injuries to key players in the lineup. It all added up to a less-than-ideal season for Minatta and company.
“The mental side of the game plays a huge part in that because you have to overcome those setbacks,” he said.