The women’s Horned Frog soccer team outshot Sam Houston State 37-5 to earn a 6-0 win over the Bearkats Sunday afternoon in front of 1,078 spectators at Garvey-Rosenthal Stadium.
TCU (2-2) took control of the match against the Bearkats (0-4) after coming off a 1-0 loss to 19th ranked University of Southern California Friday night. Junior Jordan Calhoun took the Frogs’ first shot on goal, which was stopped by the diving Sam Houston goalkeeper Jenny Pence.
Minutes later, sophomore Kim Castleberry, a transfer from Texas A&M University, slipped past Pence and placed the ball in the back of the open net.
“I liked our intensity,” head coach Dan Abdalla said. “…They can’t just get up for the top opponents. They have got to get up for every game.”
After gaining the quick lead, TCU began limiting the Bearkats’ shots and wearing them down with their speed as temperatures hovered in the upper 90s.
The Frogs controlled the first 45 minutes but TCU went into halftime with a slim 1-0 lead. Abdalla said the break gave the Frogs a chance to settle down a bit.
Junior Katie Taylor made it 2-0 in the 50th minute when she scored off a corner kick deflection from Jackie Torda. Just ten minutes later, Castleberry scored her second goal, a strike from the middle of the box, making it 3-0. Senior Chelsea Cody was awarded with the assist.
Over the next eight minutes, Castleberry had three one-on-one chances to seal a hat trick but couldn’t connect. Castleberry said she was still happy with the game she played.
“Obviously that didn’t go the way I planned, but it’s soccer, you know,” Castleberry said. “You have to keep your head up.”
Junior midfielder Alex Mechalske weaved in an out of Bearkat defenders for an unassisted goal in the 64th minute and set up several scoring opportunities for the Frogs.
“She is as crafty as a player I’ve ever been around,” Abdalla said. “She is extremely difficult to defend when she goes after the defense.”
Freshman Kristen Barg and junior Kaylie Garcia also added goals. Barg’s goal was unassisted and came in the 76th minute when she found a seam up the middle of the field, while Garcia’s came in the 87th minute when she struck from the middle of the box. Freshman Ashley Jones was credited with the assist on Garcia’s goal.
Senior Kelsey Walters started in goal and played the first half while sophomore Kira Michelson-Bartlett took over in the second half. Freshman Ashlea Bullington came into the game in the 87th minute.
TCU will be in action again at 7 p.m. Friday when they host the University of Houston Cougars (3-0).