TCU triumphs over Texas for first-ever Big 12 Tournament title

ROUND ROCK, Texas — No. 1-seed TCU doubled up on conference trophies this season, earning its first Big 12 Championship tournament title with a 2-1 victory over No. 2-seed Texas. TCU earns the Big 12’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, the Horned Frogs’ sixth straight appearance.

Down a goal at the break, TCU came out swinging in the second half and tied the match on a goal by Messiah Bright, the Offensive Most Outstanding Player of the Championship, in the 60th minute. Bright took an assist from Chaylyn Hubbard and Grace Collins to drive a shot at close range into the bottom left of the goal.

Bright almost gave TCU the lead a minute later, engaging in a footrace with UT defender EmJ Cox who won the battle for the ball and deflected out left, giving up the corner. TCU found the game winner in the 84th minute, when Camryn Lancaster broke the tie. Bright made a pass to Collins who placed it in the path of Lancaster for the shot into the bottom left of the net.

Lucky No. 13 for @messiah_bright!

Hat tip to @ChaylynHubbard on a fantastic feed!#GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/aifXebASjb

— TCU Soccer (@TCUSoccer) November 7, 2021

Texas took the early lead in the 39th minute as Ashlyn Miller found space in the middle and struck from a distance with a swerving shot, putting the Longhorns up 1-0 with her first career goal. Texas continued to test Lauren Kellett from a distance with two more shots by Teni Akindoju and Emma Regan, but the Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year managed to deliver huge saves to prevent the Longhorns from adding to their lead in the first half.

Texas outshot TCU 18-14, 7-4 on target. Kellett picked up six saves while UT’s Savannah Madden collected two. The Longhorns forced seven corners to the Frogs’ six.

TCU’s Jenna Winebrenner took Most Outstanding Defensive Player to go along with Bright’s Offensive MOP award.

The match had an attendance of 1,858, the most for a single session since the 2009 semifinals and the most in the title match since 2007. Total attendance for the 2021 Big 12 Championship was 4,345, the most since 2009.