Second Half Surge lifts BYU to 2-0 victory over TCU

PROVO, Utah — BYU women's soccer (6-2-2, 2-0-1 Big 12) defeated TCU for the first time since 2010 in a Monday night victory at South Field. 

A rainy afternoon left the grass slick to start the contest, as both teams took the opening minutes of the game adjusting to their playing field. BYU outshot the Horned Frogs in the first half, but the teams split possession evenly and entered halftime tied at 0-0.

The second half was all Cougars, as they turned nine shots into two goals and the defense kept TCU off the board. It's the first shutout for the Cougars since their 1-0 victory over Minnesota on Aug. 27. The Cougars also remain unbeaten all-time against the Horned Frogs at South Field.

"I’m really pleased with our effort, our energy, and the way we started the game," head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "I thought we came out with a lot of defensive energy, and we were able to win a lot of balls and make TCU uncomfortable. They’re such a good possession team. We knew we wanted to disrupt them in their ability to move the ball because they do it so well. We stayed patient and kept defending, and great things happened."

With the win, the Cougars move to 6-2-2 overall on the season and 2-0-1 in Big 12 play, tied for the second-best record in the conference. BYU also remains unbeaten in conference play and at South Field this season.

First Half

The Cougars earned the first corner of the game in just the second minute, but TCU cleared the ball. The Horned Frogs responded quickly with a through ball in the fourth minute. BYU goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson secured the ball on the first shot on goal of the game, and BYU flipped field quickly before a cross into the box was recovered by the TCU keeper.

BYU got its first opportunity in the eighth minute, when junior Emma Hamberlin got a through ball that she cut back quickly before unloading a shot at the bottom left corner that was saved by the TCU keeper. Just a minute later, sophomore Mia Goettsche launched a shot from outside the box that hit the crossbar and bounced back into the cleats of the TCU defense.

The Cougars earned their second corner of the game in the 12th minute that was cleared temporarily before junior Lucy Kesler regained possession. The Cougars crossed the ball back to the top of the box and drew a free kick, but the shot sailed over the cage and the game remained knotted 0-0.

Both teams continued to battle for possession and against the wet playing field, with neither team registering a shot for a 13-minute stretch. Goettsche got another good look from the right side of the box, but hit the crossbar for a second time in the half.

TCU broke through on a counterattack and briefly took a 1-0 lead before a successful BYU challenge had the goal called back for an offside and the game remained scoreless.

The rest of the first half was more of the same, as neither team converted on opportunities and BYU entered halftime tied for the seventh time this season.

Second Half

The Cougars picked up where they left off in the first half, with freshman Brynnli Tolbert registering the first shot of the second half just 38 seconds in. TCU quickly took the ball back the other direction, but BYU smothered the attack to keep the Horned Frogs off the board.

A misplay from a TCU defender found sophomore Sophie Sivulich open at the top of the box, but a TCU slide stopped the shot before it could get to the keeper. Tolbert rebounded well with another shot, this one from the right of the box sailing over the crossbar.

BYU earned three quick corners in the 57th and 58th minutes, but TCU successfully kept the ball out of the net and held off the heavy Cougar pressure.

BYU finally broke through in the 66th minute, when Anna Neff found Hamberlin at the top of the box. Hamberlin took one dribble to her right before firing a shot that soared past the TCU keeper into the bottom corner of the net, giving BYU a 1-0 lead and giving Hamberlin her fourth goal of the season. The goal also marked Neff’s first collegiate assist.

BYU kept its foot on the gas, logging two more shots and earning another two corners over the next 10 minutes. After splitting possession nearly evenly in the first half, BYU controlled the ball in the second half, outshooting TCU 8-1 through the first 30 minutes.

The Cougars struck again in the 82nd minute, as Sivulich unleashed a ball from more than 25 yards out that sailed over the keeper’s head and extended the BYU lead to 2-0. It was Sivulich’s second goal of the season, with her only other goal coming in the Cougars’ Sept. 5 contest against Oklahoma.

Peterson registered her third save of the game in the 84th minute to keep TCU off the board and finish the Cougar shutout.

Up Next

BYU closes out its three-game homestand on Friday, Oct. 2, when the Kansas State Wildcats visit South Field. The game will kick off at 7:00 p.m. MDT, with streaming available on ESPN+.