Time is running out.

On Friday night, Iowa State lost another close game, this time to West Virginia. Iowa State is now 0-5-1 in conference play and 2-12-2 overall.

“We got some opportunities moving forward, but we weren’t clean enough,” said coach Tony Minatta, who knew it was a tough task against one of the best teams in the Big 12.

The Mountaineers are known for their defense and have recorded a shutout in four of their six conference games this season, including this one, which they won 2-0. They improved their conference record to 5-1.

Iowa State had trouble mounting anything offensively against the best defensive team in the Big 12, but a bright spot for the Cyclones down the stretch was the return of junior midfielder Hannah Cade, who saw her first conference action of the season after her foot injury on Sept. 14 against University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Cade only played 23 minutes, but with the importance of these next few games, it’s important for the team to have her back.

“It was really exciting to get back out there,” Cade said. “West Virginia’s a really good program… so that was a good test.”

What this loss means for the Cyclones is even less breathing room to nudge their way into the Big 12 tournament. They are currently ninth out of the ten teams in the conference, and the top eight make the tournament.

In order for the Cyclones to make the Big 12 tournament at the end of the season, they’ll need some help.

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the teams to catch at 2-3-1. Luckily for Iowa State, two of its last three games come against these two teams, and the Cyclones’ final game is against Kansas State, the only team below the Cyclones in the standings.

Texas Christian is 2-3-1 as well, but since it has a draw against the Cyclones, they would need to advance to a second tiebreaker, which wouldn’t be favorable for the Cyclones.

As it is, Iowa State has a favorable schedule left for there to be any chance of playing this season beyond the match against Kansas State.

“I think we’re completely capable of beating these teams,” said redshirt senior midfielder Brooke Tasker.

Tasker was strong against the Mountaineers in the middle of the field, and she tallied the only shot on goal for the Cyclones.

Even with the seemingly favorable matchups, the Cyclones have backed themselves into a corner and it will be exceedingly difficult for them to qualify for the tournament.

This was arguably the Cyclones’ hardest game remaining, and they will need probably three and at least two wins in their next three to make it in.

Coach Minatta was blunt when asked what they would need to do to make it happen.

“Win.”