The Frogs’ 13-match non-conference winning streak came to a close Friday, as TCU finished just short against the Buffaloes of Colorado, 1-0.
Despite a dominant performance by the Horned Frogs, TCU could not find the back of the net on 14 shots or penetrate the back line of Colorado’s defense.
“Possession-wise, we had the ball a lot in good spots, but we were not quite as efficient in final third,” head coach Eric Bell said. “We had 14 shots but none on goal. Hats off to Colorado, they played a good game, but we have to be better in the final third.”
In the 33rd minute, Colorado’s Kelsey Aaknes fed the ball to the left corner of the field to Joss Orejel, who crossed the ball into the box to Taylor Korneick who headed the ball just over the diving Katie Lund for the only goal of the match.
TCU’s shutout streak to open the season ended at 212 minutes and 16 seconds.
The Frogs amped up the pressure late in the match, outshooting Colorado 8-2, but found no answer to Colorado’s defense. Off three corner kicks in the match, only one generated a shot on goal, which was shot high by senior forward Emma Heckendorn, who tied with first-year students Natalee Heiser and Tijana Djuricek for the team lead in shots on goal with three.
“They were nice and tight and hard for us to break down,” Bell said. “They would drop off and present a nice wall of four.”
The Frogs outshot their opponent for the third straight game, but were shutout for the first time this season.
Bell commented on why the Frogs are not worried about this one blemish on the schedule.
“We are a younger group and it’s a process,” Bell said. “We are still learning about our group and the psychology of our group. I take a lot of positives out of today’s game. We dominated possession, but it’s not about that, it’s about putting it in the net. We have to be more effective in the final third.”
The Frogs look to pick themselves up after a tough loss tonight as they wrap-up their Colorado road trip at Northern Colorado. Kick-off is set for Sunday at 2 p.m.
