Final Stats
Oct. 13, 2006
FORT WORTH, Texas For the second match in a row and for the third time in four matches, the TCU soccer team played to a draw, as the Horned Frogs tied Wyoming 1-1 on Friday at Garvey-Rosenthal Stadium.
After TCU (5-6-3, 0-1-2 MWC) took a 1-0 lead at the 64:09 mark off a shot by Caroline Starns, the Horned Frogs were just 1:21 from securing their first conference win before Wyoming's Kelsey Lindner won a scrum for the ball in the box and poked a shot past TCU goalkeeper Katy Buchanan to even the match.
The match felt like déjà vu for the Horned Frogs who fired two shots off the crossbar for the second straight match.
"I thought we played well for the most part," head coach Dan Abdalla said. "We did what we wanted to do, which was to get the ball wide and get it behind them. We just weren't as sharp in the final third. We had some good chances and hit the crossbar two times for the second game in a row."
For the match, TCU outshot Wyoming (6-5-3, 1-0-2 MWC) 24-20 and attempted eight corner kicks to just five by the Cowgirls.
In a fast paced and physical match, where two yellow cards were given to each squad, the Horned Frogs were able to control the majority of the touches and put consistent pressure on Wyoming's defense.
Unfortunately, the Horned Frogs were unable to get another shot past Wyoming's goalkeeper Jamie Scarcliff, who had seven saves.
After both teams were shutout in the first frame, TCU opened the second half with a more aggressive style that enabled the Horned Frogs to quickly build on its 8-6 shot advantage it held at the half.
The Horned Frogs constant pressure finally paid dividends with Starns' goal at the 64:09 mark. Starns was able to post her first goal of the year and third of her career by faking a shot to the right and bringing the ball back to her left where she pulled the trigger on a shot that beat Scarcliff to the left side of the net.
"I thought
Caroline Starns played a great game tonight," Abdalla said. "I am extremely impressed with her. I thought her and
Courtney Johnson played exceptionally well."
After mostly playing defender this season, Abdalla moved Starns to midfield for the match where she consistently kept Wyoming on its' heals with a team-high six shots, including three on goal.
TCU's best opportunity to score after Starns' goal came with 12:35 to play in the match, as Michelle Nguyen drilled a shot off the crossbar that came very close to crossing the line for another TCU goal.
Wyoming's goal that evened the match came with just 1:29 to play after both teams battled for a loose ball in the box. Lindner was able to get a foot on the ball and score the goal that sent the Horned Frogs to their second straight overtime match.
In overtime, Wyoming had its first scoring crack shut down by Buchanan who met Wyoming's Christine Nagel with a diving save after Nagel had gotten loose behind TCU's defense.
Both Lizzy Karoly and Lizzie Batten had two shots for TCU in the first overtime.
In the second overtime, TCU outshot Wyoming 5-3 and had another scoring opportunity denied by the crossbar. With already one goal on the evening, Starns let one fly from 30 yards out that clearly surprised Scarcliff, who stood frozen in her tracks as the ball dinged off the crossbar.
TCU had a few more chances following Starns' shot, but non came nearly as close.
Karoly finished the match with five shots and Nguyen and White each had four shots apiece for the Horned Frogs.
Up next, the Horned Frogs will travel to Las Vegas, Nev., for a match against UNLV on Sunday at 3 p.m.
