TCU report: Soccer enters Big 12 play without any mysteries

After an up-and-down start to the season, the TCU soccer team is hitting its stride at a good time.

The Horned Frogs (7-3) will be riding a six-match winning streak into Big 12 play Friday against West Virginia at TCU’s Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.

Coach Eric Bell attributes the team’s recent success to some lineup and strategy changes made after a 2-0 loss to Central Florida on Aug. 31.

“I think our mentality is better and when we walk up to the field we have to be prepared to fight a little bit more and battle,” he said.

With the majority of the team freshmen and sophomores, Bell said he knew some of those young players would have to play well above their experience level.

Freshmen Emma Heckendorn and Kela Gray have done just that and are tied for the team lead with four goals apiece.

“[Heckendorn] wants to be successful and she wants to help us win,” Bell said. “She’s committed to anything and everything to help us do that.”

Gray has scored three goals in the past three games and earned Big 12 offensive player of the week honors after scoring game-winning goals against SMU and North Texas last weekend.

“When we were recruiting her, we knew she was going to have an immediate impact on the team,” Bell said of Gray. “I think it’s taken her a while to figure it all out, but I think she’s figured out a lot of different things of how to be successful within the way that we want to play.”

The lineup changes have Bell feeling good about the team heading into Big 12 play.

“I think we’re in a good spot with our lineup,” he said. “I think we have a decent idea of who is coming in off the bench and doing certain things. I think the kids fill their different roles within the team. I think it’s good. I don’t think there’s a whole lot of mystery going into conference play, which is good.”

Volleyball

TCU lost its Big 12 opener 3-1 Wednesday against Texas Tech (13-0).

“This Tech team is a lot better team than they’ve had in the past,” TCU coach Prentice Lewis said before the match. “They’re confident.”

TCU (10-5, 0-1 Big 12) entered the Texas Tech match with wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and High Point, which Lewis said built momentum with consistent play.

“I think that’s the biggest thing we’ve been working toward. We can play 1-25 playing tough, but be consistent going toward our goal,” she said.

Women’s golf

Kelley McGovern of The Woodlands made a hole-in-one Wednesday on a 154-yard, par-3 17th hole at the Golfweek Conference Challenge in Vail, Colo.

McGovern, who was playing in her second tournament for TCU after transferring from William & Mary, shot a 73. TCU finished seventh in the team standings. The Frogs return to action Oct. 4 at the Schooner Fall Classic in Norman, Okla.

This story was originally published September 25, 2014 at 3:43 PM.