SOC: TCU Takes Down Air Force, 2-1

Oct. 14, 2011
Courtesy GoFrogs.com

FORT WORTH, Texas - Senior Katie Taylor put a free kick into the net to give the TCU women's soccer team a late lead to defeat Mountain West Conference foe Air Force, 2-1, Friday night at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium. The Horned Frogs hosted 2,803 fans to boast the largest crowd in stadium history.

"The thing is that we have playing well and I am happy to see the results of our play payoff with a win," TCU head coach Dan Abdalla said. "This gives us some momentum to get going and now we just need to focus on Sunday. I was really proud of the way our team responded after they tied it up in the second half. Some mistakes are going to happen and you are going to give goals up, but I thought our backline played really well tonight. We just had the one slip up, but we didn't give up. We kept the pressure on and we were able to get that second goal. We showed a lot of resiliency in coming back."

"I want to thank both the TCU and Fort Worth communities for coming out and supporting us tonight," Abdalla said. "It is a special atmosphere for college soccer when you have two conference teams playing under the lights with beautiful weather and nearly 3,000 people in the stands cheering."

TCU (7-7-1, 1-2 MW) dominated possession and the shot totals, outshooting Air Force (6-6-3, 1-1 MW), 22-10. Brooke Kviz, Monica Alvarado and Taylor registered four attempts each, while seniors Alex Mechalske and Jordan Calhoun enjoyed three strikes apiece.

Calhoun had a chance to put the Frogs up early in the match, but the senior had her attempt blaze past the goalkeeper and bang off of the crossbar. Minutes later, Kviz put a shot on goal from inside the box on a cross from freshman Tori Hale, but the Falcons' goalkeeper had fast enough reflexes to kick the ball wide.

Kviz kept the pressure up and finally put the Frogs on the board at the 27:48 mark of the first half. The Keller, Texas native tallied her fourth goal of the season from inside the box off an assist from senior Jordan Calhoun. Friday's match was the second-straight game for Kviz to find the back of the net, who also tallied a goal against Texas Tech Sunday.

Later in the first period, Mechalske slid into the box to get a foot on a feed from senior Kaylie Garcia, but her attempt was blocked short by an Air Force defender. Taylor and senior Kristen Halverson each laced shots on goal minutes before the half, but the Falcons' goalkeeper dismissed both tries.

The Frogs didn't lay down with a lead in the second half, grinding the ball into the Falcons' side of the field for most of the period. Kviz looked to add to her goals total five minutes into the frame, header a cross from Hale wide right.

Mechalske appeared to have given TCU a 2-0 advantage from the right side of the box at the 53:06 mark, but the score was nullified thanks to an offside call by the official. Minutes later, Alvarado struck the right post from about 15 yards out.

After Air Force tied the match up at the 66:37 mark, Mechalske found herself in the box with the ball at her feet again. The senior from Fort Worth dribbled right to avoid an Air Force defender and create an open look at the goal, but her strike sailed high over the goal in the 61st minute.

It wasn't until the 72:30 mark in the match that Taylor would line up her free kick to win the match. After Air Force took down a TCU player just outside the box, the Escondido, Calif., native bended a blast in the upper-ninety from the left corner to put the Frogs on top, 2-1. The score was the sixth of Taylor's career and the first since striking against Sam Houston State at home on Aug. 29, 2010. It was the first game-winner of her collegiate career.

TCU will now prepare for the final home match of the 2011 season, hosting Wyoming Sunday for Senior Day. The match will be shown on national television by The Mtn. Sports Network (DIRECTV channel 616).