Throughout the Cyclones’ first 11 years of NCAA Division l soccer, they have compiled a non-conference record of 57-47-19. The trouble comes when the teams of the Big 12 come knocking, where they have compiled a 37-66-6 record.

The team just returned home from the Rebel Classic in Las Vegas unscathed in the loss column with a win and a tie, improving their record to 4-1-2.

After achieving the second-best record in school history through seven games, the team is now at the heels of a Big 12 Conference that features five teams ranked in the nation’s top 31. Only the Pac 10 Conference has more with six.

“I think we finished out the non-conference season very well, and we were able to show that we were very competitive with teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year,” said coach Rebecca Hornbacher. “We went 1-1-1 against teams that made the tournament last year. More importantly, the team is getting better week by week.”

Since the Cyclones play all teams in the conference – which is 10 games because Kansas State doesn’t have a team – there will be no free passes in the coming weeks.

Despite the schedule ahead, the coaches and players remain optimistic and confident that success can be obtained in one of the strongest conferences in America.

“The team is pumped,” said senior Erin Witte. “The Big 12 is a tough conference with great teams and we are one of them. We constantly tell ourselves this every time we step on the field, whether it is practice or a game.”

Two of the next three opponents are ranked in the nation’s top 20, with Oklahoma State at No. 16 and Texas at No. 5. Other teams currently ranked high from the Big 12 include Texas A&M (4), Missouri (26) and Colorado (31).

“Although there are five teams ranked in the top 31 in the Big 12 Conference, it is very true that any team can win on any given day,” Hornbacher said. “We have to be able to put aside the ranking of a team, and be able to focus on what will make us successful as a team.”

The Cyclones have the fourth-best winning percentage in the conference thus far, yet still have garnered no votes from the top 25. The Cyclones believe they know how to turn that negative into a positive.

“We have worked just as hard as any other team in our conference and are ready to show it,” Witte said. “We know that we are going to be underestimated coming into these conference games and we will only use that to our advantage.”