Two dangerous teams, Missouri and Kansas, will be the Cyclones’ competition in a pivotal weekend of Big 12 soccer.

With only three games remaining on the schedule, the Cyclones, along with just about every other team in the conference, will be fighting for a spot and a proper seeding in the upcoming Big 12 Tournament, in which only the top eight teams qualify.

The Cyclones are currently in a tie for fifth place in the conference with Oklahoma State, who they own a tiebreaker over. Missouri is currently in second place in the standings, with Texas and Texas Tech nipping at their heels. Kansas is tied for seventh with Colorado, who both trail the Cyclones by only one point.

Senior captain Brittanie Waddell knows the significance of this weekend’s games, not only for the conference tournament, but the team’s NCAA hopes as well.

“We have to be able to set ourselves up for the Big 12 Tournament,” Waddell said. “With our three conference losses, we have to make sure we end really well so that our NCAA dreams will hopefully happen again.”

The last time the Cyclones were in the NCAA Tournament was in 2005, when the current seniors were freshmen. That year they barely slipped into the tournament and were dominated by No. 1 seed Portland in the first round. Coach Rebecca Hornbacher said it’s pivotal for her team to be playing its best at the end of the season.

“It’s real important to be playing well at the end of the season because we want to be peaking going into the final games of the season, the Big 12 Tournament, and hopefully the NCAA Tournament,” Hornbacher said.

Missouri will likely be a NCAA Tournament team, while the Jayhawks’ odds aren’t so high. Players and Hornbacher insist, however, that both teams are hot right now and will be tough opponents.

“Missouri is very strong, very physical and very fast – they are the most athletic team we’ve played all season,” Hornbacher said. “Kansas is fighting right now to solidify a spot in the Big 12 Tournament and this weekend is very, very important for them.”

Senior captain Stephanie Kaphingst said the team is focused right now for the final stretch, and that they just want to get out and play.

“I definitely think the team is focused right now,” Kaphingst said. “We’re really working hard in practice, and we’re just ready to go out there and play some good games.”

The Cyclones will be in Columbia, Mo., on Friday taking on the Tigers at 7 p.m. The team will then travel to Lawrence, Kan., where the Jayhawks will be waiting. Game time is 1 p.m.