TCU Soccer: Becerra’s goal leads Frogs over Wildcats

For the seventh time this season, TCU Soccer picked up a clutch one goal win, this time on the road over the Kansas State Wildcats this past Thursday by a score of 1-0. Sydney Becerra was the hero for the Frogs with a goal in the 82nd minute to give TCU its second conference win of the season. The number 10 ranked Frogs moved to 8-1-0 on the year and 2-0-0 in Big 12 play with the win. 

The TCU offense started the game strong with a flurry of chances in the first ten minutes of the game. Emma Yolinski recorded the first shot on goal of the game in the seventh minute before Becerra and Seven Castain both missed shots out to the left. AJ Hennessey was the next Frog to threaten with a shot that hit off of the crossbar in the eleventh minute. Kansas State recorded their first shot on goal in the 19th minute which was handled by Kira Ybarra who started in goal for the Frogs. Becerra responded for the Frogs with a shot on goal in the 22nd minute that was saved by the Kansas State goalkeeper resulting in a corner kick for TCU. Kamdyn Fuller recorded a shot off the corner kick before Kansas State was able to clear. Castain was the next Frog to create a good chance with a shot on goal in the 34th minute that was saved by Kansas State. TCU kept the pressure on through the end of the half with shots from Georgia Leb, Kaela Martinez, and Marli Galdamez and Kansas State managing just one shot in the final 25 minutes of the half. TCU controlled play in the first half but was unable to convert with a goal thanks to a solid performance from the Kansas State goalkeeper.

Kansas State increased their aggressiveness in the second half, being given a yellow card in the first minute of the second half and a shot in the second minute of the half. Castain and Zoe Calyer responded, each recording shots for the Frogs. Morgan Brown then recorded the first shot on goal of the second half for TCU in the 49th minute. The play turned a bit sloppy in the next few minutes as Kansas State was called for multiple fouls and TCU was called for offsides before Becerra barely missed a go-ahead goal with a shot that hit off of the left post. The Kansas State offense picked up the pace in the following minutes with a couple of corner kicks, a shot that sailed high, and a shot on goal in the 68th minute that was saved by Ybarra. Kansas State had the next big chance with a shot on goal in the 78th minute that was handled by Ybarra before Hennessey responded with a shot that missed high. Ybarra made another big save in the 82nd minute before Becerra gave the Frogs the lead with a clutch shot from deep as Hennessey picked up an assist on the goal. TCU withstood a late push from Kansas State to complete the shutout and secure the win.

The Frogs picked up their third shutout of the season with the win as TCU continues to play sound defensively and get solid work from their goalkeepers. TCU will stay in the Sunflower State for their next game in Lawrence against the number 14 ranked Kansas Jayhawks.