Slyman’s Blasts Leads TCU W-Soccer To Victory
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FORT WORTH – Brittany Slyman’s second period tally was the difference in a 1-0 victory over Montana Friday night at Garvey-Rosenthal. A crowd of over 2,000 were on hand to witness head coach Eric Bell get his first career victory at TCU.
“I thought in order for us to be successful, it was important for us to be organized but also when we have the opportunities, to block shots and I thought we did a good job of that,” remarked Bell. “Vittoria (Arnold) made some big time saves to keep us in it as well. It was a whole team effort and we needed it to be. I challenged our group at the half to go out and fight and make it a soccer game and they did.”
A late surge at the end of the first half by the Horned Frogs carried over to the second half where TCU took control of the match. The early pressure in the second was rewarded in the 54th minute when Slyman found the back of the net for the only goal of the game.
TCU got a great lead pass from the back line and the ball found its way to the foot of Maddy Courvoisier. The junior put a solid touch on the ball and laid it right at the feet of Slyman, who blasted a shot from the top of the 18-yard box past a diving Kristen Hoon for her first goal of the season and fourth of her career. Slyman’s game-winner was her first goal since Oct. 3, 2010.
“It started out as a fantastic ball, then a flick on by Maddy Courvoisier, who found
the right person with the right space. Brittany (Slyman) does well bringing it down, puts a good smack on the ball and it goes in the back of the net,” said Bell of the goal.
Montana brought the pressure following the goal as it carried the ball deep into TCU territory. The attack led to a corner kick in the 59th minute. India Watne fired just wide as she made a bid to tie the game.
More pressure from the Grizzlies resulted in another scoring opportunity with just over 14 minutes to go in the match. Mary Makris got in tight low and fired a shot towards goal that was knocked away by Arnold to keep the Frogs on top.
In the first half the teams battled to a 0-0 tie with Montana holding a 5-3 shot advantage. It was the Horned Frogs who had the first opportunity to get an early lead when Sarah Schweiss started a rush down the field. She made a solid feed to Slyman, who’s cross just missed connecting with Lindsy Schafer.
From there, the field tilted in the direction of the Grizzlies. Solid defense by Monica Alvarado and Bobbi Clemmer broke up a two-on-two opportunity for Montana. A feed from Watne broke Tyler Adair free and she buried her shot in the waiting arms of Arnold with 18 minutes to go in the first. Arnold’s best save of the contest came with 7:28 remaining in the first as she swiped the ball off the goal line on a Makris header.
Arnold was solid in goal, collecting her first shutout in a TCU uniform. The sophomore made four saves, including three in three in the first period.
TCU improves to 1-0-1 on the season. The Frogs return to the pitch Sunday afternoon for a 1:30 match against Stephen F. Austin (2-1-0).
