Top-seeded TCU rallies for 2-1 win over BYU in Big 12 semifinals

PROVO — In less than a minute, everything changed for the BYU women's soccer team.

The No. 7 team in the country has a way of doing that.

Cameron Patton had two assists, including the game-winner to Draper native Seven Castain in the 41st minute to lift seventh-ranked Big 12 regular-season champion TCU to a 2-1 win over fourth-seeded BYU, extending the Horned Frogs' winning streak to eight straight Wednesday night in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.

MacKenzee Vance scored for BYU (9-5-6), which saw its five-match unbeaten streak snapped.

Allie Fryer nearly gave the Cougars the lead in the 13th minute, but her right-footed attempt from just outside the penalty area caromed off the far post as TCU goalkeeper Megan Plaschko breathed a sigh of relief.

Avery Frischnknecht nearly broke the ice again with an attempted header three minutes later off a corner kick. But Vance gave the Cougars the 1-0 lead in the 20th minute, slotting home her seventh goal of the season after Erin Bailey set it up with a seemingly unintentional dummy in front of goal from Mika Krommenhoek, and Vance was more than happy to clean it up.

Either way, BYU took the deserved 1-0 advantage, out-shooting the Horned Frogs 5-2 in the first half that included two shots on goal and three corner kicks.

But the lead didn't last long.

Caroline Kelly scored in the 40th minute to equalize for TCU (16-2-2), squaring up a cross from Patton in front of goal.

Just 57 seconds later, Patton found Castain for the go-ahead goal and the former Waterford star notched her conference-high 13th goal of the season to put the Frogs in front.

"Our subs came in and did a really good job," said TCU coach Eric Bell, the Big 12 coach of the year. "Caroline Kelly off the bench changed the momentum of the game in our favor."

In three career games against BYU, the Draper native has scored four goals.

"Obviously, not very happy with how we played the last 10 minutes," BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said at halftime. "I (told the team), I thought we had learned our lesson; we've been in these positions before. But obviously we haven't."

Plaschko made four saves to help result stand up for TCU, which out-shot the Cougars 12-9 with a 6-5 edge in shots on target.

The Horned Frogs advanced to Saturday's Big 12 championship match, where they will face the winner of the second semifinal between second-seeded Texas Tech and No. 6 Kansas.

BYU returns home to await its NCAA Tournament selection fate that will be announced Monday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. MST on NCAA.com. The Cougars were rated No. 24 in the RPI before Wednesday's match against No. 13 TCU, two of six teams from the Big 12 in the top 60 of the preferred ratings for tournament selection.

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