The Horned Frogs (6-8-4 overall, 1-3-3 in conference) still have room to grow, said senior goalkeeper Katy Buchanan.The 2006 season came to a close with a 1-0 TCU victory over the San Diego State Aztecs (6-11-2 overall, 2-3-2 in conference) Saturday.

Though TCU did not qualify for the Mountain West Conference Tournament, the team improved on its 6-11 seasonal record and 1-6 conference showings last season.

TCU had to win on Saturday, and the Air Force Falcons needed to win against the New Mexico Lobos. New Mexico won its match 3-0 and eliminated the Frogs from playoff contention.

“I think this is the best we have played since my freshman year,” said senior forward Casey Glass. “We reached the highest point of our game, senior year.”

The first 25 minutes of play had San Diego State controlling the time of possession battle, but with about 20 minutes left in the half, TCU picked up the pace and shifted the momentum. A series of runs and attacks led by freshman striker Lizzy Karoly and freshman midfielder Michelle Nguyen started giving TCU some offensive presence.

Glass capped off her TCU career with a second half goal against the Aztecs. Her well-placed rebound into the corner of the Aztec net proved to be all the offense TCU needed to finish off the afternoon match, and earned her Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.

“Casey Glass came through with a big time goal, and Nguyen and Lizzy both created opportunities for us,” said head coach Dan Abdalla.

Senior leadership on the field also came from Buchanan. Her 10 saves helped secure TCU’s third shutout of the season, he said.

“It felt good to leave it on the field,” Buchanan said.

During the match, the high speed Aztec offense peppered the TCU goal with a series of shots but the Horned Frog defense stepped up and kept control of the match.

“We held on and didn’t give anything away,” Abdalla said.

The match marked the final game the team’s seniors would set foot on the manicured pitch of Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium as players.

“It’s a group (of seniors), I have a lot of respect for,” Abdalla said, “When we win championships in the future, it will be because of the foundation they laid.”

Abdalla said this year’s senior class helped establish tradition, ethic and a team culture for the young Horned Frogs squad.

“They didn’t want to end the season on a bad note,” Abdalla said.