The TCU women’s soccer team opened its home schedule Friday night with a 1-0 victory over Montana. It was the first win for new head coach Eric Bell, as TCU moved to 1-0-1 on the season.

Montana held the advantage in time of possession during the first half, taking three shots on goal and five shots overall. However, the Horned Frogs played stout defense, and Vittoria Arnold made three impressive saves to preserve a 0-0 score at halftime.

“I think it came from our leadership in the back,” Arnold said of holding the Grizzlies scoreless through the first half. “From Monica [Alvarado] being a senior and Bobbi [Clemme] it definitely made my job a lot easier having those girls win every ball for me.”

The momentum shifted in the second half when Brittany Slyman scored in the 54th minute. The goal came off of a header from Maddy Courvoisier that gave Slyman the ball in open space. Slyman was then able to beat goalkeeper Kristen Hoon, the Big Sky Player of the Week, to score the only goal of the game. The score was Slyman’s first of the season.

“It was a team goal,” Slyman said. “It was a great ball by Bobbi, and Maddy headed it down, and I just had to put it in the back of the net.”

The team played more aggressively in the second period. 

“I challenged our group at the half to go out and fight first and then try to make it a soccer game,” Bell said. “And I think we did that.”

Sarah Schweiss was injured while blocking a Montana shot in the eighteenth minute. She was carried off the field and did not return.

TCU’s next game is at home on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. against Stephen F. Austin.