No. 20 Soccer falls after No. 9 TCU’s late rally, 2-1

Sunday, November 7

Round Rock, Texas

2:30 p.m. CT

University of Texas

11-4-6, 6-0-3

#9 TCU - Final

17-2-2, 7-1-1

Texas

TCU

No. 20 Soccer falls after No. 9 TCU’s late rally, 2-1

11.07.2021 | Soccer

Box Score

Freshman midfielder Ashlyn Miller granted the Longhorns a first-half lead with her first career goal at 38:39

ROUND ROCK, Texas – On Sunday afternoon at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex, the first career goal from freshman midfielder Ashlyn Miller granted No. 20 Texas soccer (11-4-6) a first-half lead, but No. 9 TCU (17-2-2) rallied with two second-half scores to secure the Big 12 Championship, 2-1.

The Longhorns now await word on their postseason road as the NCAA Selection Show will be broadcast on NCAA.com on Monday at 3:30 p.m. CT.

Texas Team Notes

Texas dropped to 1-3-1 in its five total Big 12 Championship final appearances (2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2021).
Texas freshman Ashlyn Miller scored her first collegiate goal on a 25+-yard strike at 38:39.
With her 14th assist of the season on Miller's score, midfielder Lexi Missimo now owns the most assists by a freshman in a single season in Texas program history. The Southlake, Texas, native has also tied the Texas single-season assist record established by Kelly Wilson back in 2001.
Sunday's loss was the first for the Longhorns since Sept. 9 against Oregon, ending Texas' school record unbeaten streak at 14 matches.
Texas out-shot TCU by a total of 18-14, including 7-4 in shots on goal, and led 9-6 in corner kicks.

The Details

Texas wasted no time creating a huge opportunity for a breakthrough as senior midfielder Julia Grosso drove a shot from the top of the box about a yard outside the right post just 51 seconds into the match.

TCU got on the board shot-wise at the 5:37 mark as Messiah Bright took possession inside the 18, turned quickly and fired well outside the right post.

UT senior forward Mackenzie McFarland forced Horned Frog goalkeeper Lauren Kellett into action at 19:39 as her shot from 25 yards traveled right into the net minder's arms.

At the 30:20 mark, TCU managed a flurry inside the box with Bright eventually driving a header into fifth-year senior goalkeeper Savannah Madden's hands for a save.

McFarland was back at it during the 37th minute as an Emma Regan cross from the right wing found the senior forward near the back post. Unfortunately, McFarland's leaping volley was mis-hit with the shot rolling well wide right of frame.

It was the Longhorns that eventually broke through at 38:39. Missimo touched a ball back to Miller who blasted a 25+-yard shot into the upper right 90 for a 1-0 advantage.

Texas came close to adding more right before the half as junior Teni Akindoju had a lengthy try tipped over the bar by Kellett while Regan hit a 40-yard blast on frame that TCU's keeper saved on a dive at the right post.

Regan continued the Texas pressure out of the break at 48:59 as her lengthy try was snagged by Kellett.

Missimo soon followed with a lengthy drive of her own at 50:33 that was stopped near the right post.

TCU turned things around over the next 10 minutes as Gracie Brian had a shot blocked (53:11) before Jenna Winebrenner blasted an attempt from the right wing off the upper right side netting at 53:48.

The Horned Frog pressure finally paid off at 59:40 as Bright drove up the right wing and managed to beat Madden into the lower left corner from 10 yards out to tie the match at 1-1.

Texas finally began to settle back into the match during the 68th-69th minutes as Regan and Miller blasted shots high and wide of frame, respectively.

With time beginning to run short, the Longhorns had a great chance at 78:17 as Missimo got possession of the ball in some space near the left post. TCU's defense rallied just in time, however, to block Missimo's eventual shot out left.

Regan forced another Kellett stop from distance at 79:07 as the Burnaby, British Columbia, native's try was stopped on a dive at the left post.

Back at the other end, TCU eventually found the go-ahead goal at 83:43 as a cross from the right wing deflected off the crowd near the top of the six. The ball landed right at the feet of Camryn Lancaster who tapped the ball into the open net for a 2-1 advantage.

Texas continued to press down the stretch for an equalizer, but could only get a wide effort from Miller at 89:20 as the Horned Frogs wrapped up the Big 12 title.