Horned Frogs and Lobos to battle on Sunday
10/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 3, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU women's soccer program, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the Central Region, will open conference action this Sunday against New Mexico at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.
Start time for the match against the Lobos is set for 1 p.m. in Fort Worth.
Scouting TCU
TCU is off to its best start in program history with an 8-1-1 mark, including a 5-1-1 record at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium. The Horned Frogs enter today's showdown having netted 30 goals on the season, while holding opponents off the scoreboard six times.
Against Texas-San Antonio last Sunday, Lizzy Karoly and Jackie Torda netted first half goals to lead TCU to a 2-1 victory over UTSA at the UTSA Recreational Sports Complex. Overall, TCU outshot the Roadrunners, 31-13, including 20-5 in the first half. On offense, TCU was led by Torda who fired seven shots and netted one goal, while Karoly posted five shots and one goal. The Horned Frogs have now outshot their opponent, 88-14, in their last two matches. The 88 shot attempts is currently the best two-match total in the NCAA this season.
TCU is currently ranked No. 5 in the Central Region by the NSCAA/Adidas regional rankings and No. 7 by Soccer Buzz Magazine. The Purple and White have recorded the best record in the Mountain West Conference heading into today's match, while also posting the most goals of any conference team. Finally, Karoly was named Mountain West Conference Offensive Athlete of the Week this past week for the third time this season.
Scouting New Mexico
New Mexico comes into Sunday's match-up having recorded a 5-2-4 record. The Lobos, who have not lost a conference opener since 2003, are on a two-match winning streak. UNM enters today's contest having shutout five opponents this fall.
This past week, Lobo goalkeeper Shannon Adragna was named Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Overall, Adragna had five saves and faced eight shots in a 3-1 win over Utah Valley University on Sept. 26. Against Central Arkansas, Adragna had four saves on four shots and picked up her fifth shutout and win of the season in a 7-0 victory over the Bears.
New Mexico, who has won or tied seven out of its last eight matches, has received votes to be placed in the top-15 of the Central Region. Overall, the Lobos have tied two top-25 teams this season. On Sept. 12, New Mexico battled 24th-ranked Wisconsin-Milwaukee to a 1-1 tie. A week later, UNM held off 25th-ranked San Diego at the UCLA Women's Cup. The Lobos blanked the Toreros for the first time in five matches.
All-Time Series
The Horned Frogs are 2-5-1 all-time against New Mexico. TCU won the 2007 meeting between the two MWC schools, 1-0. In the match, senior Angie Nickens netted a goal in the 34th minute off a corner kick to give TCU a 1-0 conference victory over New Mexico. Overall, Jackie Torda led the Horned Frog offensive attack by recording four shots on the day, while Nickens, who netted her sixth goal of her career, posted three shots, including one on goal.
Follow The Horned Frogs
Fans not able to attend Sunday's home match against New Mexico can follow the game live by logging onto www.gofrogs.com. There you can find links to gametracker and watch the match live via web streaming.
All regular season home contests will be broadcast live via web streaming on gofrogs.com.
Firing Away Inside The Box
TCU set a new conference and school record against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, recording a 57-1 shot advantage against the Lady Lions. The 57 shots, which were the most attempted by a MWC school since the conferences inception, currently ranks as the second-most attempts in the NCAA in a single-match in 2008. The Horned Frogs' 88 shots attempts in the last two matches are the most by a single squad this fall in a two-consecutive matches.
Inching Closer To Record Breaking Performances
As a team, TCU currently sits at No. 2 in single-season records in assists and shutouts entering conference play. The Horned Frogs also have posted the fourth-best point total entering this weekend. Individually, Jordan Calhoun needs only one more goal to break into the top-5 all-time in goals scored in a single season, while senior midfielder Caroline Starns currently sits at No. 6 in assists for a single season with five on the year. On defense, sophomore Kelsey Walters needs only one more shutout to move into third all-time in shutouts for an individual season with five.
MWC Honors TCU Again
Lizzy Karoly was honored on Monday as the Mountain West Conference Offensive Athlete of the Week.
Karoly, a native of Escondido, Calif., posted a total of six points over the weekend en route to wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Texas-San Antonio.
In a dominating 6-0 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Karoly, who has now been named MWC Athlete of the Week three times in 2008, tallied a goal and two assists, including assists on the first two goals of the contest. On Sunday against UTSA, the junior netted the first goal of the match by deflecting a pass in the air and heading the ball into the upper right hand corner of the net to give the Horned Frogs a 1-0 lead.
TCU has now had a student-athlete be named MWC Athlete of the Week every week except one this fall, while Karoly has earned the honor three times during 2008.
In The Rankings
TCU maintained its highest national regional ranking of the 2008 season this week in the NSCAA/Adidas regional poll. The Horned Frogs are currently No. 5 in the Central Region. In Soccer Buzz Magazine's Central rankings, TCU moved up three spots to No. 7 overall.
The central region consists of 69 teams.
Horned Frogs Coming On Strong In NCAA
TCU's early season success has been noticeable while viewing the NCAA statistics. Overall, the Horned Frogs have placed student-athletes in the top-30 of the NCAA in three different categories. On offense, Jordan Calhoun ranks No. 21 in points per game and No. 16 overall in goals per contest, while fellow forward Lizzy Karoly currently sits at No. 21 in points per game and No. 24 in goals per match.
Goalkeeper Kelsey Walters has dominated at times this fall and the proof is on paper. The sophomore currently sits at No. 29 in save percentage.
As a team, TCU sits in the top-30 in five different categories. The Horned Frogs have posted the No. 23 ranked shutout percentage, while also being ranked No. 22 save percentage. TCU is also ninth and 23rd overall in scoring offense and goals-against-average, respectively. Finally, the Frogs are 18th overall in winning percentage this fall.
Mountain West Conference Statistics Update
The Horned Frogs lead the conference in nine different categories after eight matches.
Overall, TCU obtains the top-spot in shots, points, goals, goals per game, assists, assists per game, goals allowed, goals-against-average and shutouts. On offense, either Lizzy Karoly or Jordan Calhoun rank first in seven different areas, while goalkeeper Kelsey Walters sits atop the conference in save percentage and goals against average.
Up Next
The Horned Frogs will continue Mountain West Conference action next Friday at Wyoming. Start time for the match against the Cowgirls is set for 3 p.m. MT.
