Horned Frogs score twice in final minutes of the first half for the comeback victory in the Big 12 Semifinals
Big 12 regular season Champion No. 7 TCU Soccer punched its ticket to the conference tournament final with a 2-1 victory over the BYU Cougars on Wednesday night in Kansas City.
THE HORNED FROGS ARE HEADED TO THE FINAL @TCUSoccer claims the 2024 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship semifinal victory to advance to Saturday’s championship match.
TCU will face either No. 2 Texas Tech vs. No. 6 Kansas.#Big12SOC | @sproutsfm pic.twitter.com/L4D2ypacgq
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 7, 2024
It’s always a physical battle when TCU takes on the Cougars and the opening 15 minutes of the semifinal featured six fouls, including a BYU yellow card. The Horned Frogs had the first two shots on goal, but it was BYU breaking through in the 20th minute as a shot was blocked by the TCU defender but deflected right to another attacking Cougar who punched it into the net. TCU goalkeeper Megan Plaschko bounced back with a pair of big saves in the following minutes to keep the margin at one
Big save from MP. #GoFrogs | #FIGHT pic.twitter.com/Zu7ooKK21S
— TCU Soccer (@TCUSoccer) November 6, 2024
The Horned Frogs found the back of the net twice in the final six minutes of the first half, each coming off of crosses from the right wing by Cameron Patton, with the first being directed in by Caroline Kelly and the go-ahead goal being converted by Seven Castain. The TCU offense features the top three scorers in the Big 12, with Castain’s goal giving her 13 on the season and top in the conference and Kelly’s 12th goal slotting her right behind, while Big 12 Forward of the Year Bella Diorio ranks 3rd with 11 goals.
13 goals and counting…#GoFrogs | #FIGHT pic.twitter.com/bpCxZYbmZp
— TCU Soccer (@TCUSoccer) November 6, 2024
In the second half, the Cougars were throwing attackers forward to try and steal an equalizer to extend the contest, but the Horned Frogs defense held strong, conceding zero corners and just four shot attempts while Plaschko saved the only two shots that were on target.
The Frogs will take on the Kansas in the Big 12 Championship game after the 6-seed Jayhawks took down 2-seed Texas Tech 2-1. KU has made an incredible run over the last few weeks to even reach the Big 12 Tournament, now winners of seven straight contests. TCU did not play Kansas during the regular season but holds a five game winning streak against the Jayhawks.
TCU will look to lift the trophy on Saturday November 9 at 7:00 PM at Kansas City’s CPKC Stadium, broadcast on ESPN+