Number four ranked TCU Soccer suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of the Northwestern Wildcats last night in Fort Worth by a score of 1-0. The Wildcats scored a goal early in the first half and shut down the TCU offense the rest of the game, allowing just one shot on goal from the Frogs. The Frogs did not play their cleanest game on offense, missing on more passes than usual and failing to create chances against a conservative gameplan from the Wildcats. Northwestern is a solid team
but this is a disappointing result for the Frogs who were coming off of a very successful road trip.
The Frogs generated the first chance of the game with a corner kick in the second minute, but Northwestern then jumped out to an early lead thanks to a rocket off the foot of Kennedy Roesch that made its way over the outstretched arm of TCU goalie Kira Ybarra. The TCU offense responded with a shot on goal from Seven Castain that was turned away by the Wildcat goalie. An offsides call a few minutes later ended an extended offensive possession for the Frogs. TCU quickly moved back in and earned back-to-back corner kicks. Castain then got another shot off that went over the crossbar. Northwestern upped their physicality on defense and was called for three consecutive fouls before managing an offensive push of their own. The Wildcats recorded a shot on goal in the 26th minute that was saved by Ybarra to keep the game at 1-0. Both defenses settled in for the remainder of the half as neither team attempted another shot until after the break.
Northwestern came out of the gate firing in the second half, managing a shot in the first minute after the break and a shot on goal that was saved by Ybarra. The physicality also ticked up in the second half with the Wildcats picking up four fouls and TCU picking up a foul in the first ten minutes of the second half. Northwestern again generated a few chances with two shots, one of which on goal in the 59th and 60th minutes. The first shot of the half from TCU came in the 61st minute from Grace Vest as the ball missed high. The teams traded shots in the next six minutes before Northwestern was whistled for a yellow card in the 68th minute. The Frogs were not able to generate any shots off of the foul and Northwestern recorded the next two shots in the game. The best chance for TCU came on a great shot by Cameron Patton who rifled one off of the left post in the 74th minute. Northwestern closed the game out with great defense, allowing just one shot from TCU the rest of the game. TCU had possession for the majority of the game but the Frogs were not able to generate enough high quality scoring chances against Northwestern.
The Frogs have an important home game next against in-state rival Texas A&M this Sunday, September 7th, at 7:00 pm as they move toward the end of their non-conference schedule.
