The Texas Tech soccer team (11-6-3) lost its Big 12 semifinal matchup to the No. 1 seed TCU Horned Frogs (16-2-2) 3-0.
Unlike the regular season matchup between the two teams, the Red Raiders could not withstand the offensive firepower of TCU. The Horned Frogs scored two quick first half goals en route to knocking the Red Raiders out of the Big 12 tournament.
TCU Dominates the First Half
In the first half, the Horned Frogs proved why they were the eighth-ranked team in the nation. TCU outshot the Red Raiders eight to three in the first half including goals in the 12th and 28th minutes.
First Team All Big 12 forward Messiah Bright scored first for the Horned Frogs. Tech defenders Hannah Anderson and Cassie Hiatt attempted to put a stop to Bright’s free run at the goal, but a flurry of moves ended with a shot that went into the top left of Tech’s goal.
The Red Raiders had only shot the ball once by the time TCU scored its second goal.
Down 1-0 in the 28th minute, the Red Raiders were once again trying to stop Messiah Bright. Bright scored her second goal of the game when she took a long-distance shot from outside the penalty area. The ball sailed just outside of the outstretched arms of Tech goalkeeper Madison White and into the goal.
TCU would hold on to its 2-0 lead after a header from Hannah Anderson bounced off the post just before halftime.
Tech Offensive Finds Opportunities in the Second Half
After being held to just three shots in the first half, the Tech offense began to find some rhythm. Just three minutes into the second period, Tech forward Gisselle Kozarski took a shot, but the ball sailed to the right of the goal and out of bounds.
In the 51st minute of the game, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Kirsten Davis had a scoring opportunity for the Red Raiders. Davis took a shot towards the center goal, but Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year Lauren Kellet got the save for the Horned Frogs to keep the score 2-0.
Just a few minutes later, Tech had a flurry of shots that could not find the net. Freshman defender Macy Blackburn took a shot that sailed over the goal and out of bounds. Out of a corner kick, Kozarski and junior midfielder Penelope Mulenga both took shots that were deflected by the Horned Frog’s backline.
In the 80th minute, Tech took players away from its backline in an effort to create offense in the game’s waning moments. As a result, TCU junior forward Skylar Heinrich took advantage of the vulnerable Tech defense by scoring a third goal for the Horned Frogs.
The score would remain 3-0 as the clock hit zero.
Comments From Coach Stone
Tech head coach Tom Stone said the team came out slow in the first half. He said the team was not very physical unlike the regular season matchup with TCU that was a much closer contest.
Stone said the team played much better in the second half.
“We played hard in the second half for each other, the seniors all played extremely well . . . they played their tails off in the second half.” Stone said. “It wasn’t enough because of the hole we dug ourselves into in the first half.”
Up Next
The Red Raiders season may not be completely over yet. NCAA selection day will be on Monday. Despite a tough year in RPI for the Big 12, Tech will hope to have shown enough to hear its name called for the NCAA tournament.
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