With victories over Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, the ISU women’s soccer team broke a two-game losing streak and secured a trip to the Big 12 tournament.

After an almost flawless performance Sunday afternoon, the team took more out of the weekend than just the two critical wins.

The Cyclones (10-5-3, 5-3-1 Big 12) beat the Cowgirls 4-1, and the Sooners 3-0, to officially join the eight-team field of the Big 12 tournament, fundamentally picking apart both squads to push themselves into the upper tier of the conference standings.

The team’s last two home games served as both a ticket to the tournament in San Antonio and a confidence-builder heading into the post-season.

“Things are definitely coming together at the right time,” said sophomore goalkeeper Joanna Haig. “There were definitely the best two games I have seen in my two years here, and our seniors agreed that this is the best our team has ever looked.

“It is just really exciting to see everything click and [see us] mesh. We are finishing when we can finish, and we are shutting everyone down.”

Oklahoma State (10-4-3, 3-4-1) scored five minutes into Friday night’s game, but after that, the weekend was all Cyclones.

Stephanie Kaphingst tied the game soon after, and Renee de St. Aubin put Iowa State ahead for good with more than two minutes left on the half. Iowa State left nothing to chance by launching two insurance goals in the second half.

Everything came together Sunday afternoon on Senior Day. Senior Leslie Hansell made the most of her first start of the year, heading in the eventual game-winning goal 12 minutes into the match.

Beth Passman and Meghan Smith scored within a three-minute span midway through the second half to put on the finishing touches.

“I am ecstatic,” said coach Rebecca Hornbacher. “We are doing everything we need to do to put ourselves into position for the postseason. We are playing at a very high level right now, and with each game, are getting more confident. Things are coming together very nicely.”

The win over Oklahoma State greatly improved the Cyclones’ post-season chances, nearly securing a berth in the tournament.

Iowa State was coming off losses to Baylor and Texas that dropped them from first-place to the brink of missing the postseason. The win over Oklahoma clinched a Big 12 tourney spot, and left them somewhat worry-free heading into their final game of the season against Nebraska.

Now, the Cyclones are looking to earn the best seed possible. Texas A&M’s win on Sunday ended Iowa State’s chances for the conference title, but they can still finish as high as second.

Senior Kristina Baumann expressed her optimism at this point of the season.

“We feel great about this team,” Baumann said. “We are peaking at the right time, and we secured a spot at the tournament, which is exciting. We know what to expect this year and I think we will have a better showing.”

The Cyclones lost in the first round of the tournament last year to Kansas. The two wins this weekend helped Iowa State eclipse last year’s win totals both overall, eight, and in the Big 12, four.

Sunday’s shutout of Oklahoma was Haig’s sixth of the season. She had four saves in each game.