It’s do or die for the ISU soccer team, as it prepares for two key matches this weekend against Big 12 foes Texas Tech and No. 15 Colorado.

With five conference games remaining, the Cyclones (5-8-1) find themselves in tenth place in the conference standings and in much need of a victory if there is any chance to make a run at the conference tournament in San Antonio.

The top eight teams in the final conference standings will get the nod to join the party in Texas, and coach Wendy Dillinger knows this weekend’s games will be pivotal if the Cyclones want to make a repeat trip to the tournament.

“We just have to finish. In the game against [Texas] A&M, we had many opportunities and were dangerous by getting into the box,” Dillinger said. “Leslie Hill was in the box several times but just kicked it right at [the goalkeeper], so we need to just finish those types of plays.”

Turning the opportunities into goals has been lacking thus far in conference play as the Cyclone offense has netted only three goals in five games.

Texas Tech comes to Ames on Friday night in what Dillinger calls a “must-win game.” A win over the Red Raiders (7-6-1) would put Iowa State in a better position to move up in the standings. Currently, the Cyclones trail the Red Raiders in the standings by five points, but a win would pull them within two.

“It will be a physical game,” Dillinger said. “I know Tom Stone [Texas Tech head coach] pretty well from playing for him in Atlanta many years ago, and I know what he wants out of his players, but it will be physical.”

That physical play has earned the Red Raiders the most yellow cards in the conference, with 14 total. In order to keep up with the intensity and fast pace, the Cyclones will have to limit their mistakes and take care of the ball.

“Making good decisions is what we have to do,” Dillinger said. “When our back’s to the goal and we’re under pressure, instead of kicking the ball out of bounds or turning and kicking it up the field, we need to try and find somebody underneath the play to play it back to keep the possession.”

Slowing down the Texas Tech offense will not be an easy task for Iowa State. The Red Raiders boast one of the top offensive threats in the conference in Brittany Harrison, who has totaled 17 points this season — good enough for fifth in the league.

The Sunday showdown with the No. 15 Colorado Buffaloes provides the Cyclones with an opportunity to get a signature win over a high-quality opponent. Colorado is currently in second place in the Big 12 after some key wins against Texas and Kansas, both of which defeated the Cyclones earlier this season.

Continued pressure on the Buffaloes (11-2-2) and taking their time when they get into the opposing box will play a big role in determining the amount of success the Cyclones have.

“[The players] rush it sometimes, especially when playing the ball backwards,” Dillinger said. “They are already thinking about running forward before they actually get the pass off, and they actually end up playing ‘hospital ball,’ which is what we call it because the person they are playing ends up being a 50-50 ball and could put them in the hospital.”

Colorado stakes claim to a punishing defense, which has allowed only 11 goals on 130 shots this season. Dillinger said it will take a full game on both sides of the ball for the Cyclones to pull off the upset.

“Our four defensive backs need to continue to play solid, and if we can get our midfielders to heighten their awareness on what they’re doing we will be alright,” Dillinger said.

“If they [Colorado] try to split seams in the defense, we have to counter that, and off the counter we must force them back out or play wide.”

The Buffaloes bring in immense pressure, with 91 corner kicks credited to their high-powered offense, and the Cyclone defense must come to play their best. Help from the offense by keeping the ball on the Colorado side of the field to give the defense a break will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.