ELITE FROGS! [2] TCU Scores in Final Five Seconds, Takes Down North Carolina in Penalty Kicks

Monday, November 24

Fort Worth, Texas

1 p.m.

TCU

17-2-3, 9-1-1

North Carolina

13-6-2, 6-4-0

North Carolina

TCU

ELITE FROGS! [2] TCU Scores in Final Five Seconds, Takes Down North Carolina in Penalty Kicks

11/24/2025 5:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Horned Frogs advance at death’s doorstep

FORT WORTH – In one of the most memorable matches in TCU women's soccer history, the second-seeded Horned Frogs took North Carolina to penalty kicks and TCU secured a 4-3 advantage on penalty kicks to book a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

THE RUNDOWN
TCU (17-2-3, 9-1-1 Big 12) saw a back-and-forth physical battle with North Carolina in the first 45 minutes of action. The first shot of the game was not recorded until the 36th minute of action, as both teams fought tooth and nail to keep control of the ball and create momentum. However, heading into the first break the score was level at 0-0.

The second half saw a different story unfold, as TCU had its back against the wall for the majority of the second half. The Tar Heels recorded a 9-3 shot advantage and had multiple close shots on goal. AJ Hennessey and Hannah Harms had multiple close chances, but the Frogs were unable to capitalize. In the 82nd minute, the Tar Heels put in a through ball that seemed to be going to Olivia Geller's hands, but after a few deflections the ball went straight to a North Carolina player who was able to put it away and capture a 1-0 advantage.

Coming into the final minutes TCU poured on the energy, but it seemed like UNC was going to be able to hold onto the lead and advance to the next round. In the final 30 seconds, Hannah Harms was in a foot race with a Tar Heel defender and was able to ricochet the ball of and give the Frogs a corner kick in the closing seconds.

With no ball in sight, Hennessey ran over behind the goal, grabbed a ball and launched it over to Sydney Becerra who was rushing to take the kick. With every TCU player in position, including goalkeeper Olivia Geller, Becerra sent in the cross that was able to reach the back post. Right there was Kamdyn Fuller, who headed the ball right on target. In quick succession, the ball hit off the goal post, then the UNC goalkeeper, then the post again and finally off the Tar Heel goalkeeper and into the back of the net at 89:54 to keep TCU alive and send the match to overtime.

In both overtime periods, neither team was able to grab an advantage, and the game would eventually be sent into penalty kicks. Becerra, Seven Castain, Cate Sarinopoulos were able to take advantage on their opportunities and convert their penalty kicks. After a pair of Tar Heels missed their kicks, Hennessey stepped to the spot and rifled in a shot that would send TCU to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second time in school history.

Olivia Geller came up huge for TCU today, playing every minute of the match and in penalty kicks and recording eight saves.

QUOTE OF THE GAME
On his post-game reaction with Ryan Higginbotham and seeing the TCU community and Fort Worth show out…
"A lot of hard work and emotion goes into this. (Ryan) Higginbotham has been with me since day one. It's been 14 years of trying, clawing, scraping and fighting to get to this point. We released a lot of energy at this time. With the crowd, we had so many people there. The football team and so many other teams were there, and it was freaking awesome. I'm happy with the turnout, and the community came out and supported us like crazy. We think that during the penalty kick shootout they gave us an advantage for sure."

GAME NOTABLES

TCU recorded its 10th NCAA Tournament win in team history.
This marks TCU's first-ever win in the NCAA Third Round. Its only other instance of advancing was a tie against Georgetown in the 2020 season.
TCU defeated the defending NCAA National Champion from the previous year for the first time in program history.
Today marked the second time this season TCU went into penalty kicks, also doing so against BYU in the Big 12 Tournament.
TCU recorded an 8-2 save advantage.
Kamdyn Fuller's late-game heroics mark the latest goal TCU has scored all season.
Kamdyn Fuller scored her fourth goal of her career today.
Sydney Becerra grabbed the eighth assist of the season and 22nd of the career today.
Olivia Geller, Katana Norman, Cameron Patton and Grace Coppinger played the entirety of today's match.
Filippa Hoegild, Evie Baker, Grace Vest, Kaela Martinez, Hannah Harms and Quinn Cornog were substitutions today for TCU.