Soccer downed in regular-season finale at TCU, 3-2

Friday, October 28

Fort Worth, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Texas

8-9-1, 1-6-1

TCU

10-5-2, 2-5-1

Texas

TCU

Soccer downed in regular-season finale at TCU, 3-2

10.28.2016 | Soccer

Box Score

Sophomore Chelsea Surpris and junior Morgan Murphy scored first-half goals for the Longhorns

FORT WORTH, Texas – In a back-and-forth affair on Friday night at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium, first-half goals from sophomore defender Chelsea Surpris and junior midfielder Morgan Murphy weren't quite enough as Texas soccer (8-9-1, 1-6-1 Big 12 Conference) dropped its 2016 regular-season finale at TCU (10-5-2, 2-5-1 Big 12 Conference), 3-2.

With the loss and Texas Tech's 1-0 (2OT) win over Oklahoma on Friday night, the Longhorns were eliminated from Big 12 Championship consideration to conclude their 2016 season.

For both Surpris and Murphy the goals marked their second of the campaign, while senior midfielder Julia Dyche earned her team-leading sixth assist of the season by delivering the corner that led to UT's initial tally.

Texas out-shot the hosts by an 18-13 count, including 9-4 during the second half, and 8-7 in shots on frame while also maintaining a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.

It took just 3:40 for the Horned Frogs to grab an early lead in the contest. Following a turnover inside Texas' defensive end, TCU quickly raced down the pitch in a 2-on-1 break with Karitas Tomasdottir passing from the left side to a wide open Emma Heckendorn in the middle. The forward raced in by herself and finished to the left of a diving Brown from 10 yards out to make it 1-0.

It took just 4:01 for the Longhorns to locate an equalizer and tie things up at 1-1. With UT struggling to maintain possession of the ball, strong work on the left wing against the run of play earned Texas its initial corner of the match during the eighth minute. Dyche delivered a ball towards the back post that was cleared out of the 18 by a TCU defender. The clearance dropped right to the feet of Surpris about 25 yards out, however, and the Crowley, Texas, product unleashed a rocket into the upper 90 to dead-lock the contest.

With both offenses creating numerous opportunities, it was Texas that would strike next at 12:01. Off a long throw-in from deep on the left side line, the ball ricocheted around among a group of players at the top of the six-yard box. Battling inside the scrum, Murphy managed a perfect back-heeled shot into the left edge of the netting to grant the Longhorns a 2-1 advantage.

The Horned Frogs continued with chances at their offensive end as a searching 16th minute cross from the right wing into the middle was vitally cleared out of danger by Murphy.

The pressure continued for TCU into the 30th minute as a cross from the right wing into the middle, with a Horned Frog waiting right on the doorstep, was cleared away at the last minute by Texas senior defender Isabelle Kerr. Just seconds later, a Kayla Hill shot from 15 yards out traveled straight into the waiting arms of Texas keeper Paige Brown between the pipes for one of her three total saves.

At 31:43, TCU earned a corner kick and delivered an ensuing feed inside the middle of the 18. With numerous bodies from both teams fighting hard, Hill and Allison Ganter managed consecutive shots from within 10 yards. Brown deflected away Hill's initial try, while a Texas defender managed to save Ganter's follow-up effort off the goal line.

All the pressure finally paid off for the Frogs at 37:07 as a delivery from Tara Smith into the 18 was finished from 12 yards out through a crowd by McKenzie Oliver to dead-lock the contest at 2-2.

Senior forward Jasmine Hart attempted to answer right back for the Longhorns just 1:02 later, but her lengthy try from well out front was barely held out of goal by TCU keeper Katie Lund.

Texas had one more terrific chance to re-take the advantage during the opening frame as freshman forward Cyera Hintzen made a terrific pass through defenders. Receiving the feed deep inside the 18 was sophomore midfielder Katie Glenn. The Round Rock, Texas, native spun quickly to attempt a shot, but her difficult attempt hit off the right-side netting for a goal kick.

Out of the locker room, it was TCU having the best of the early possession with a 50th minute cross from the left wing traveling just outside the right post.

Back at the other end, Dyche tried her luck from about 25 yards out for the Longhorns at 50:39, but her shot traveled just a foot or so over the crossbar.

Off a corner in the 62nd minute, a deflection ended up at the feet of Hart on the right side of the 18. She pivoted quickly and blasted a drive, but it was blocked away by a Horned Frog defender.

TCU eventually moved in front off a corner in the 63rd minute. Off the pass inside the 18, a header was popped up towards frame. Brown tried to deflect the shot away, but the ball continued to rattle around in dangerous territory near the six-yard box. Ganter managed the last header, putting a shot past the net minder from four yards out and into the twine to hand the Horned Frogs back the lead at 3-2.

Texas freshman defender Emma Jett worked hard up the left wing and launched a try from the left side at 69:10 that was saved just wide of the right post. Off a follow-up corner for the Horns, Glenn had the ball eventually delivered to her on the right side, but her effort from 23 yards out was caught by substitute keeper Courtney Hofer.

The Burnt Orange & White again came close to an equalizer during the 77th minute. Hintzen fought hard up the left side against numerous defenders to launch an effort that was deflected away by Hofer in goal. Off the rebound back out towards the top of the 18, junior forward Olivia Brook drove a follow-up shot wide right of frame.

Down the stretch, the Longhorns had two more solid opportunities to tie things up as Dyche shot wide at 81:58 and 82:52, but the Horned Frogs were able to waste away the remaining time to secure the 3-2 victory.