This weekend, the ISU soccer team is back in Ames to face Oklahoma State and Baylor in hopes of getting its first conference wins of the season.

But some tough practices in their bye last week could help the Cyclones (6-5-1, 0-2 Big 12) walk away with a pair of victories.

“When we were having to wake up at 6 a.m. for practices and then going back in at 3 [p.m.], it helped us a lot to get in the mindset like you have to just keep going and keep going,” said sophomore midfielder Emily Goldstein. “We worked so hard last week and we just really focused a lot on attacking.”

The first game of the weekend is on Friday at 6:30 p.m. against undefeated Oklahoma State (14-0, 3-0 Big 12), which also happens to be ranked No. 2 in the country.

While some teams may put that out of the picture and prepare like they would for any other team, the Cyclones see it as a chance for improvement.

“We look at it as an opportunity to be able to knock off a team like that and be able to get our names known, and it’s a great opportunity to get to play against a great group of players,” Goldstein said. “It’s a chance for us to step up and really show people how good we really can be.”

One potential threat for the Cowgirls is forward Krista Lopez, who leads the team with seven goals.

Senior co-captain Emily Hejlik said they plan to use the mental aspect to help contain Lopez.

“They don’t like it when you’re physical with them, so we put an emphasis on being physical because to get in their heads a little bit, they don’t like to be pushed around,” Hejlik said. “Definitely being physical is the main key for our success.”

The second matchup of the weekend comes against Baylor (9-2-2, 1-1-1 Big 12) at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Bears have only allowed seven goals this season, and sophomore forward Brittany Morgan said they will have to capitalize on chances when they get them.

“I think when we get the opportunities, we need to put them away,” Morgan said. “We’ve had opportunities in these past few games we lost and we didn’t put our chances away, so just getting any chance that we have, we need to score or get close or anything, just put our chances away.”

So far this season, the Bears have scored 23 goals and the Cowgirls 37, and ISU coach Wendy Dillinger said a big focus has been making sure they’re ready when they lose possession so they don’t get beat on the scoreboard as well.

“The biggest thing we’ve been focusing on is transition, quicker recognition defensively once we lose the ball so that we are in a better position once we do lose the ball to defend but also once we win the ball to get numbers forward,” Dillinger said.

“I think that’s been the biggest focus is just being quicker in transition and also being more focused and disciplined to prevent silly mistakes.”

All games are free at the ISU Soccer Complex and kickoff begins at 6:30 Friday night against Oklahoma State.

“We’re good enough up top to put away goals and good enough defensively to be able to stop them, and I think we’re a lot more focused after this last week and these couple last days of practices,” Goldstein said.