TCU fell to Baylor 1-0 in front of a packed house at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium Friday night.
A crowd of 2,250 fans packed into the stadium on a chilly Friday night to watch as TCU women’s soccer concluded its regular season campaign with a 1-0 loss to rival Baylor.
Both teams played a conservative first half, combining to take only nine shots.
TCU head coach Eric Bell said the team’s game plan helped the Frogs play the Bears to a stalemate in the first half.
“It was better than the second half when I think we kind of got out of the way of what we were doing in the first half,” Bell said. “I think we got into more of their style where we are kicking it, and they are kicking it back to us, and it became a kick-fest, and they are better at it than we are.”
In the second half, Baylor’s offense pressured TCU freshman goalie Shannon Coffer, the incumbent Big 12 newcomer of the week, with a barrage of shots.
Bri Campos gave Baylor the only point of the game when she netted a straightaway free kick from 25 yards out.
Campos lifted the ball over a wall of Horned Frog defenders and into the top left corner, past the outstretched arm of Coffer.
TCU nearly tied the game in the 76’ minute when sophomore defender Bobbi Clemmer’s shot in front of the Baylor goal was blocked, ricocheting to senior defender Brittany Slyman in the right half of the box.
Slyman tried to put the ball to the left of Baylor goalie Michelle Kloss but shot the ball wide of the goal and out of harm’s way.
TCU head coach Eric Bell said that despite the loss he was happy with the fight that his team showed.
“I look at it from this point and this time a year ago when we played them they walked all over us,” Bell said.
Though the Bears outshot the Frogs 16-8 in the match, Coffer saved seven shots on the night to preserve the one score game.
Bell said that although it was senior night, the six seniors played with poise and avoided getting caught up in the emotions of the moment.
TCU now turns its head toward the Big 12 conference tournament, which begins next week in Kansas City.
Last season the Frogs lost to Baylor in the Big 12 championship game.
