TCU’s first fall sporting event brings a sense of normalcy ... and a victory over Texas
Life hasn’t been too normal for anyone amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday night, though, the TCU women’s soccer team at least got a little sense of normalcy. They played a home game in front of a crowd, albeit a limited-capacity one, and did what they’ve become accustomed to doing under coach Eric Bell — winning.
The Horned Frogs had little trouble with the Texas Longhorns, rolling to a 3-0 victory at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.
“Obviously we’re the first TCU team to play this fall, and we take pride in that,” Bell said. “We know it’s our responsibility to get a good result at home.”
TCU had plenty of stars on the night, headlined by senior goalkeeper Emily Alvarado. Alvarado had her 15th career shutout, making five saves.
Yazmeen Ryan scored the game’s first goal in the first half and then the Horned Frogs cushioned the lead with late goals by Haley Mallion and Grace Collins.
Asked if her job is easier with a lead, Alvarado said: “It definitely helps ease the pressure, but the goal for the whole team is to have a shutout. That’s always in the back of our minds. Even though we’re up 2-0, 3-0, we’re still shouting, ‘Keep the shutout.’
“We just don’t want to let up. We have a standard we uphold.”
Especially in front of a home crowd.
Friday’s soccer match was not open to the public, but there were still a number of fans on hand. Both teams were able to invite guests and TCU allowed in approximately 75 students. The soccer stadium has 1,500 seats.
Areas of the bleachers were marked to encourage spectators to socially distance as much as possible. TCU also took temperatures of each fan before allowing entry and required face coverings to be worn.
TCU said it made the decision on limiting soccer attendance “in compliance with limited capacity requirements set by local and state guidelines to provide the safest environment for the student-athletes, coaches and staffs.”
TCU hadn’t hosted a sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the sports world in mid-March. Shortly after the Big 12 canceled the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in Kansas City, the conference then canceled the spring sports seasons.
But TCU student-athletes in fall sports have been preparing since the summer.
The women’s soccer team opened the season at Baylor on Sept. 11 with the game finishing in a 0-0 tie. That same day was supposed to be TCU’s football opener against SMU, however that game was postponed following a COVID outbreak among the football players.
The football team will now start the season against Iowa State on Sept. 26 at Amon G. Carter Stadium. That game is expected to be open to fans in limited capacity (12,000 fans at the 46,000-seat stadium).
The soccer program certainly appreciated a home-field advantage on Friday.
“It’s been seven months since we played at home,” Alvarado said. “Just to be able to be back out here, to be under the lights at our home field, it felt amazing. It brought a little bit of normalcy to all of our lives for 90 minutes. I was focused on the game, but it felt like a normal Friday night to me. It was really nice to be out there and see fans and see familiar faces in the crowd.”
The soccer team’s next home game is against Iowa State on Oct. 2. They play at Kansas State next Friday Sept. 25.
