TCU soccer skated by the Texas Longhorns in a penalty shootout in the 2019 Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinals.
The Frogs outshot the Longhorns in both halves, totaling a 22-17 shot differential. Eleven of the 22 shots came from Messiah Bright, the most shots by any Big 12 competitor in this tournament since 2004.
“She was a beast today,” head coach Eric Bell said when asked on Bright’s performance. “I guess, depending on how things go, I’m going to start calling her Miss November. She was in attack mode from minute one and it was nice to watch.”
In overtime, TCU again led the shot count at 4-2, but still couldn’t find the back of the net.
In the penalty shootout, goals from Yazmeen Ryan, Grace Collins, and Maddy Warren, as well as two saves by goalkeeper Emily Alvarado, pushed the Horned Frogs to victory.
“We practice that stuff all the time, so that was well-rehearsed,” Bell said. “The kids stepped up and did what they were supposed to do, what they have practiced over and over again. We were fortunate. We were prepared and able to advance.”
The shootout win marks the first Big 12 Soccer Championship win over Texas for TCU, and just the third overall. This is also the third overtime match the Frogs have played, with the previous two ending in draws.
If the Frogs capitalize on this semifinal opportunity, it would mark the third time TCU reaches the conference finals in its seven years in the Big 12; the Frogs lost the previous two.
Next, TCU plays the No. 2 seed Texas Tech at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City. The winner will advance to the Big 12 Soccer Championship Finals.
