The TCU women's soccer team reacts after making the NCAA Tournament. Photo courtesy of TCU Athletics.
It’s been a season that will go down in history.
For the first time ever, the TCU women’s soccer team is heading to the NCAA Tournament. The Frogs will get home field advantage for the first round, hosting Texas A&M at 7 p.m. Saturday at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium. The winner will face either USC or Eastern Washington in the second round on Nov. 18.
Head coach Eric Bell took some time to chat about how the team is preparing for the big dance.
On whether it’s good enough “just to be here”...
“I think our group has got bigger aspirations than just getting into the tournament. I think we want to make a run and go as far as possibly we can go and have some fun with this.”
On the team’s approach to facing Texas A&M in the first round...
“I think we’re going to be really organized defensively. We’re going to be pretty button-up. It’s going to be hard to score a goal on us. We’re going to be pretty organized and dynamic in the attack as well. Hopefully we look to pass the ball a little bit and play some attractive soccer.”
On the team’s reaction to being part of the NCAA Tournament...
“Having that opportunity to be part of a selection show with this particular group, then seeing them and their reaction, how shocked and surprised and excited, and all these different emotions, from tears to joy to everything – it was awesome to see. For me, that’s why I came here. To have an opportunity to compete for national championships. Hopefully we’re in the beginnings or the ground floor of trying to do that.”
All the feels! The sound of history is amazing! Relive the moment the team learned it had earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/uK6BFeAOEc
— TCUSoccer (@TCUSoccer) November 8, 2016