Cougs Host TCU for first Big 12 match Thursday evening

No. 1 BYU (7-0) women’s soccer will host TCU (3-3-1) in its inaugural Big 12 match Thursday evening.

BYU vs TCU preview picBYU vs TCU preview pic

PROVO, Utah – No. 1 BYU (7-0) women’s soccer will host TCU (3-3-1) in its inaugural Big 12 match Thursday evening. 

Thursday’s matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m. MDT. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

BYU vs. TCU

A SEASON OF FIRSTS. The BYU women’s soccer team will play the first Big 12 game across all sports when it faces the Horned Frogs on Thursday. 

IN THE RANKINGS. For the first time in program history, the Cougars sit atop the national rankings for the second week in a row after moving to 7-0 on the season.

STANDOUT PLAYERS 

  • Defender Olivia Smith-Griffitts tallied her first career brace in the game against the Utes on Saturday evening

  • Senior Kendell Petersen leads the Cougars in assists after tallying her seventh against Utah Saturday evening

  • Sophomore forward Allie Fryer notched her first brace of the 2023 season in BYU’s win over Utah

  • With a goal against Utah, Olivia Wade-Katoa is now tied with fellow teammate Erin Bailey with the most goals on the team this season (5)

THE COUGARS. BYU last played against Utah on Ute Field Saturday, Sept. 9, besting the Utes 6-1. This game continued BYU’s undefeated run, moving to 7-0 this season. Both Smith-Griffitts and Fryer notched braces, with other goals coming from Wade-Katoa and Rachel McCarthy. This was the first game so far this season where more goals were unassisted than assisted, with only two assists in the game against Utah. 

THE HORNED FROGS. TCU last played at Butler on Sunday, Sept. 10, falling to the Bulldogs 2-1, despite outshooting the opponent. TCU’s Grace Coppinger scored the Horned Frogs’ lone goal against Butler. Coppinger’s goal was the second of her career, first of the season.

COUGARS VS. HORNED FROGS. The Cougars and Horned Frogs have played 10 times previously, with BYU leading the overall series 9-1. BYU and TCU last faced off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament back in 2018, when the Cougars fell to the Horned Frogs, 2-1 at the Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium. The Cougars have never lost to the Horned Frogs on South Field, with a home record of 4-0.