Bell, Higginbotham Earn 150th Win, #9 Frogs Thump Waves, 6-1

Thursday, August 14

Fort Worth, Texas

7 p.m.

TCU

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Pepperdine

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Pepperdine

TCU

Bell, Higginbotham Earn 150th Win, #9 Frogs Thump Waves, 6-1

8/14/2025 10:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Legendary duo earns impressive milestone as TCU posts season-opening victory

FORT WORTH – The No. 9 TCU women's soccer team opened its 40th season in program history with a 6-1 triumph over Pepperdine on Thursday night at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium. Freshman Kamdyn Fuller notched two goals in her collegiate debut.

THE RUNDOWN
The Horned Frogs (1-0) got the scoring started early and often, putting two goals into the back of the net within the first eight minutes of game action. Seven Castain notched the first goal of the season in the third minute off a beautiful feed by Grace Coppinger from behind midfield, while Emma Yolinsky earned her first TCU goal in the eighth minute of action just inside the 18-yard box.

The Frogs kept pouring on the offense, scoring two more goals in the 19th and 20th minute. AJ Hennessey was first with a quick steal and score inside the Pepperdine box, while Fuller secured her first collegiate goal off a batted cross by Castain. To end the first frame, TCU dominated on both sides of the ball, recording a 9-1 shot advantage.

The Waves got on the board first in the second half, putting the score at 4-1 in the 56th minute. The Frogs responded less than two minutes later, Fuller completed the brace on a header courtesy of a Cameron Patton cross into the six-yard box. Zoe Calyer added the final tally in the 74th minute on a feed from Ally Brown to complete TCU's offensive explosion.

Kira Ybarra, in a full 90-minute performance, notched one save in her first appearance as a Frog.

STAT OF THE GAME
150 – Head coach Eric Bell and associate head coach Ryan Higginbotham collected their 150th victory together while at TCU. The legendary duo embarks on their 14th season in Fort Worth, posting a 150-81-40 record to date.

QUOTE OF THE GAME
On recording 150 wins at TCU alongside Ryan Higginbotham…
"We've had some good players. They make us look good. We try to organize them and put them into a space where they can be successful, but it's all up to them. We've been fortunate enough over the last few years to win a lot of games. I'm thankful that we've been able to do that, but that's all because of them and not us."

GAME NOTABLES

TCU improved to 11-2-1 in season openers in the Eric Bell era and has not surrendered a loss in the opener since 2019.
The Frogs scored the most goals in a season opener since a 7-1 triumph on the road against Stephen F. Austin in 2021.
TCU scored its most goals in a game since it tallied six in a victory over Colorado on October 5, 2024.
Kamdyn Fuller scored two goals for the Frogs in Thursday night's victory, marking the first time a freshman scored multiple goals in a game since Sarah Melcher tallied two in a 5-1 win over Kansas in the Big 12 Quarterfinals on October 30, 2022.
Seven Castain was the first goal-scorer for the Frogs this season, notching the 23rd of her career.
Seven Castain found the back of the net to mark the 23rd goal of her career, moving her into a tie with Yazmeen Ryan for the sixth most in program history.
Zoe Calyer and Emma Yolinsky each scored the first goal of their career.
AJ Hennessey notched the 10th goal of her career.
TCU outshot Pepperdine, 17-7.
Georgia Leb played the entirety of the match.
11 newcomers made their first appearances for TCU during the game against the Waves.

UP NEXT
TCU will head down to San Antonio to take on the UTSA Roadrunners. That game will take place at 7:30 p.m. CT at Park West Athletics Complex on ESPN+.