It took just six minutes for Northwestern to flip the script in Fort Worth, Texas.
After weathering TCU’s opening surge, Kennedy Roesch created her own magic out of nothing. Collecting the ball from her back, the sophomore striker dribbled through traffic and found a pocket of space outside the box. She unleashed a left-footed rocket that soared into the top left corner, a goal worthy of a highlight reel and her third of the season. That banger would set the tone for the night.
TCU wasted little time reminding NU how dangerous its own attack can be, however. In the 14th minute, forward Seven Castain broke through on the right side, but defender Audrey Alberts held firm in a one-on-one battle, forcing a weak shot that keeper Nymma Nelson handled easily. Six minutes later, the Horned Frogs nearly equalized off a set piece, as a bouncing ball careened between players in the box before Nelson finally scooped it up.
Even as the Frogs pressed higher, the Cats began to play calmly with possession. They found countering lanes through Hollan Carey’s clean tackles in midfield, setting up an Alex Fallon run in the 26th minute. Fallon’s strike tested TCU keeper Kira Ybarra, but the save kept NU from doubling its lead.
Megan Norkett added another spark minutes later. Operating alone on the left wing, she juked past her marker and delivered a dangerous cross into the box, only for TCU to clear before Roesch could pounce. Though chances were rare, NU maximized them in the first half, and the midfield block in its 3-4-3 shape clogged TCU’s passing lanes. With Brooke Miller anchoring the backline, the Wildcats frustrated their opponent via relentless effort.
Northwestern carried its composure into the second half. In the 47th minute, Caterina Regazzoni generated the team’s second corner of the night, meeting the ensuing cross with a header that Ybarra managed to poke aside. Six minutes later, Fallon nearly doubled the lead after combining with Roesch on a long build-up, but her shot skimmed just wide of the right post.
The Wildcats slowly flipped the script on possession in the second half, holding the ball more frequently and forcing the Horned Frogs to defend more despite being down a goal. Roesch, already the hero of the first half, continued to threaten with two immediate chances in the 60th minute, first rifling just over the crossbar, then testing Ybarra again after a quick counter on the left.
The Frogs, desperate to avoid a shocking defeat, pushed harder in the final 20 minutes. Castain tested Nelson with two attempts, but the senior keeper matched each effort. The most nerve-wracking moment arrived in the 75th minute, when Cameron Patton curled a shot toward the far post. Nelson dove but didn’t touch it — only for the ball to ricochet off the woodwork and out of frame.
Northwestern slowed the tempo later in the game, absorbing TCU’s pressure and booting long balls forward to chew away at the clock. The backline stayed compact, Nelson commanded her box to clear the danger off, and the Wildcats never wavered until the final whistle blew.
Northwestern clinched the 1-0 upset, the highest-ranked road win in program history, and its first win over a ranked team since knocking off No. 21 Virginia Tech back in 2023. The Wildcats travel back to the Midwest into Iowa City to face off against Iowa next on September 12 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
