TCU Soccer: Castain’s Hat Trick leads Frogs over Jayhawks

Number seven ranked TCU Soccer picked up a big road win over a previously number ten ranked Kansas Jayhawks team this past Sunday by a score of 3-2. Seven Castain delivered another incredible performance for TCU with a hat trick against Kansas to lead the Frogs to a win. The Frogs moved to 9-1-0 with the win and yet again came away with a win in a close, one goal game.

Olivia Geller started at goalkeeper for the Frogs and was tested early as Kansas recorded a shot on goal just 21 seconds into the game. Geller handled another shot on goal just three minutes later as Kansas applied early pressure on the TCU defense. The Jayhawks eventually broke through in the fourth minute with a goal from Lexi Watts, putting the Frogs in a 1-0 hole before they had recorded a shot. Cameron Patton created some offense for the Frogs with a pair of shots in the eighth and ninth minute before Kansas had another extended offensive possession. The Jayhawks recorded four shots over a seven minute stretch as TCU struggled to regain possession. The Frogs then took advantage of a Kansas mistake as the Jayhawks committed a handball in the box resulting in a penalty kick for TCU that Castain buried to tie the game at 1-1 in the 23rd minute. Geller thwarted a Kansas shot on goal one minute later to keep the game tied. The Jayhawks again kept the pressure on TCU and recorded another shot on goal that Geller again handled. Both teams upped the physicality down the stretch of the first half as the teams traded fouls and Lainey Swanson was given a yellow card for the Frogs. Neither team was able to record a shot on goal in the final fifteen minutes of the half and the game remained at 1-1 heading into the break. Kansas controlled play for most of the first half with six shots on goal and fifteen total shots compared to just one goal and three total shots from the Frogs. Credit to Olivia Geller for a great performance to keep the game tied  despite the offensive onslaught from Kansas.

The Frogs started the second half faster with a shot on goal and a shot that missed high and left, both from Sydney Becerra. AJ Hennessey recorded a shot before Kansas was given a team yellow card in the 61st minute. A great individual effort and shot on goal by Emma Yolinski then set up Castain’s second goal of the game to give TCU a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute. Castain made a heads up play to outrace the Kansas defense to the rebound from Yolinski’s shot and buried the chance past the Jayhawk goal keeper. Just two minutes later, Grace Vest recorded a shot on goal and again, Castain was there to collect the rebound and make the Jayhawks pay, giving TCU a 3-1 lead. Castain did a great job to stay onside until Vest shot the ball, then broke towards the goal and was able to take advantage of a loose ball. TCU did not let up the pressure as Patton recorded a shot and Swanson recorded a shot on goal in the 78th minute. Kansas then increased the heart rate for Frog fans with a goal in the 82nd minute to cut the lead to 3-2. The TCU defense held, however, as Kansas managed just one shot on goal the rest of the game that Geller handled to secure the win.

Seven Castain has been on an absolute tear this season with nine goals and two assists through just ten games. The senior forward is playing like an All-American and has TCU firmly in the race at the national level.

The Frogs will return to Fort Worth for their next game against Colorado, this Thursday, October 2nd at 7:00 pm.