TCU
New Mexico
Soccer Battles No. 23 Lobos To 1-1 Draw
10/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2010
FORT WORTH, Texas - Kim Castleberry scored a first half goal as TCU and No. 23 New Mexico battled to a 1-1 double overtime draw Saturday night at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium."I'm happy that the team provided the effort to send out our seniors on a good note," said head coach Dan Abdalla. "I thought we battled hard and left everything out on the field tonight against a top-25 opponent. New Mexico was the best team in the conference and they deserve a championship. Hopefully, this showed our kids the level that they can play at every night."
Castleberry, a sophomore from McKinney, put the Frogs on the board 3 minutes, 16 seconds into the contest, finding the back of the net off an assist from Kaylie Garcia. On the play, Garcia found a streaking Castleberry who weaved her way through the Lobo defense to score from the right side of the field.
Castleberry continued to pressure UNM a few moments later when she appeared to have put the Purple and White on top by two goals, but her header from inside the box was saved by Kelli Cornell.
The two teams traded possessions back-and-fourth until Jackie Torda fired away off a free kick by Katie Taylor. Torda tried to connect from inside the box, but a UNM defender slid in front of the senior to derail the shot attempt in the 18th minute.
Halfway through the first half, freshman Kelly Johnson looked to have increased the Horned Frog lead just missing high from 20 yards out. Castleberry followed up Johnson's shot, connecting from the left side of the box, but Cornell was up to the task again pouncing on the ball before it could cross the goal.
In a physical back-and-fourth second half, TCU just missed on several scoring opportunities. In the 57th minute, Torda watched as her shot from inside the box was blocked by a New Mexico defender.
UNM's Rachel Fields tied the game at 1-1 in the 60th minute, just beating senior goalkeeper Kelsey Walters from 30 yards out.
With the ball deep in UNM territory following a corner kick, Cheryl Martin appeared to have put the Frogs back on top in the 63rd minute, heading the ball into the box, but Cornell once again made another save to keep TCU off the board.
The Frogs tried to rally with 10 minutes to go in the game when Castleberry took a beautiful pass from Garcia, but couldn't connect as her shot was blocked.
In the 81st minute, Jordan Calhoun bent a ball towards the top-half of the goal just missing high over the crossbar from the right side of the field. The Purple and White continued their relentless pressure as the seconds ticked away in the second half as both Garcia and Castleberry blasted shots towards the back of the net, but were denied.
Both teams traded possessions in the first and second overtime to end the game in a 1-1 draw.
Castleberry led the TCU offensive attack, connecting on six shot attempts, including four shots-on-goal. Torda chipped in with three, while Martin recorded two Saturday night.
Walters had an impressive night in her final outing in a Horned Frog uniform, saving seven shots, while Cornell posted five saves at Jane Justin Field.
With the tie, the Frogs closed their season with a 7-10-2 record overall and a 1-5-1 mark in MWC play. New Mexico, who captured the Mountain West Conference title Saturday night, moved to 11-1-5 and 5-0-2 in the Mountain West.
TCU said goodbye to five seniors Saturday night in Chelsea Cody, Martin, Torda, Walters and Nikki Wilbur. The group has recorded 38 wins during their time in Fort Worth.
