Montes penalty kick seals victory for Frogs
By Rusty Simmons
associate editor
TCU junior forward Bobby Montes merely pumped his fist a single time after
planting a second half penalty kick into the back of the net.
The rest of the Frog lineup did the majority of the cheering for Montes as his goal gave TCU (2-0) a 2-0 win against the Centenary Gents (1-2) Tuesday at the Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.
Although it was Montes’ first goal as a Frog, his more experienced teammates were cheering because of their knowledge of TCU’s lack of scoring ability in the past.
“Scoring has always been a problem for us,” junior defender Davis Bland said. “But now we’re getting more opportunities to score than in the past.”
TCU was able to create 23 shots, including eight shots on goal. Sophomore forward Jon Meyers compiled three shots on goal, including one in the first half.
Meyers had a one-on-one with Centenary’s Monweh Weeks just outside the 18-yard box. Meyers was able to get free for an apparent shot on goal, but Weeks slid back into the play and deflected the shot into the goal keeper’s hands.
The Gents also had some opportunities to score early in the game, creating four shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes of the match. The Gents’ best chance to score came on a penalty kick.
Centenary’s G.B. Cazes played a ball off Bland’s hand in the penalty box, but the Gents’ Nathan McAbee kicked the ensuing penalty kick off the goal post.
“We gave up a lot of scoring chances early that good teams would have put away,” head coach David Rubinson said. “After the penalty kick, we got organized on defense and played pretty well.”
The Frog defense and sophomore goal keeper Michael Lahoud recorded TCU’s
second consecutive shutout and second overall this season.
“Davis (Bland) and Todd Bates did a good job for us in the middle of the defense,” Rubinson said. “I thought (junior defender Aaron) Casey had a great game in the back.”
Bland, Casey and junior defender Michael Martin all played with head colds that are moving through the TCU soccer team, Rubinson said. But he said the Frogs dealt with their ailments better than the Gents.
“We are a better team (than Centenary), and that showed after the first 10 minutes,” Rubinson said. “The scouting reports said (the Gents) had weak fitness and it showed in the game — they lost their legs.”
TCU combated the heat and illness by using some new faces to the Frog lineup. The newcomers all played a part in the win — Montes and sophoore forward Ryan Parsley both scored, and junior midfielder Andy Gray had two shots on goal.
“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity,” Montes said. “Once you get it, you have to do the best you can; that’s all you can hope for.”
Montes’ best was good enough for a goal and four shots. Following the game, he turned quietly and shook the hands of his opponents — leaving the cheering to fans.
Rusty Simmons
j.r.simmons@student.tcu.edu
Missouri up next for Frogs
By Colleen Casey
skiff staff
Head volleyball coach Sandy Troudt said she didn’t know what was going through the minds of her players when they played Texas Tech.
“We want to play well at home,” Troudt said. “We want to make people come to see us, especially when we play in (Daniel-Meyer Coliseum). We just didn’t know what happened with our mental approach.
“It might have been first home-game jitters, but we just weren’t
playing normal.” 
Tech began the night slowly, but they recovered and came back from an eight-point first-game deficit, setting the tone for TCU’s three-game defeat (15-13, 15-3, 15-8).
Troudt said she was disappointed the team was not able to maintain its early lead in the first game.
“I think that everything should be considered a growth step,” Troudt said. “It’s important to keep positive after something like this, even though the results weren’t what we would have liked.”
Junior setter Lindsay Hayes was a late arrival to Tuesday’s game, and was put into the game after returning from treatment for her fractured nose. Hayes was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, and may recover in time for this weekend’s tournament, Troudt said.
“We only had a two-week window of when Lindsay could have the surgery, or else we’d have a kid with a crooked face,” Troudt said. “I always try to make the athlete a greater priority over winning a match.”
Hayes did play during two games. Freshman Tori Barlow relieved Hayes, something Troudt said had to be done.
“Lindsay gave all she could, but Tori did a great job stepping in,” she said. “We hadn’t decided on any of this during warm-ups, and that made it hard to adjust to. We never did (adjust).”
The game marked only the second meeting between Texas Tech and TCU. Although Troudt didn’t know much about them, the coach said it’s usually a good thing not to know what to expect, as long as the team can adjust.
Troudt also said the four matches this weekend against Arkansas State,
Missouri, Marquette and Morgan State could be a bit of a mystery. The
Frogs will play four matches at this weekend’s Tiger Invitational
at Missouri. The Frogs’ 3-1 loss to Missouri last season was their
only experience with any of the four teams.
“We expect Missouri to be a big time, Big-12 opponent,” Troudt
said. “Arkansas State will be similar to Missouri, perhaps a bit
quicker, but we know nothing yet of Marquette or Morgan State. The Fed-Ex
man will come tomorrow with a few tapes, but even then we won’t know
a lot.”
Despite not knowing much about the other four teams except for last year’s statistics, Troudt said it’s good to have an open mind and get experience regardless of the outcome, especially this early in the season.
“We’re looking to do some good things on the court, so it shouldn’t matter what the other teams are like,” Troudt said.
Outside hitter Amy Atamanczuk, who was the only TCU player named to last weekend’s Miami JustBalls.com Classic all-Tournament Team, has an appreciation for not knowing what to expect from each game.
“Even though we don’t know the other teams, I think that’s a good thing because we know we just have to play our game,” Atamanczuk said. “I think we’ll do well, and I’m really excited.”
Colleen Casey
Coming Back
Golfer swings into success, focuses on team
By Kelly Morris
skiff staff
One year ago, redshirt freshman golfer Adam Rubinson made the difficult decision to take a year off from competitive golf to focus on improving his game.
His decision proved to be a wise one this past weekend after he won the Fort Worth Men’s City Golf Championship with a combined score of 203, making him the third golfer to win both the Fort Worth junior’s and men’s titles.
TCU head coach Bill Montigel said Rubinson’s choice has paid dividends in his approach to the game.
“Taking a year off was the best thing he ever did,” Montigel said. “For one whole year, he worked on his game, and with the help of lessons, a golf psychologist and a personal trainer, he improved a lot.
“His game just gets better and better.”
Montigel used the City Championship as the final three rounds of a seven-round qualifier to determine his players for the team’s first tournament, The Ridges/Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate Invitational, in Johnson City, Tenn. Montigel said Rubinson’s win puts him into this weekend’s first tournament as the team’s top-ranked player.
“I’m so anxious,” Rubinson said. “I hope I can channel my nerves into positive vibes. I know if I stick to my game plan and hit one shot at a time, I will be fine.”
Fellow teammates junior Andy Doeden, sophomore Jamie Kellam and seniors Aaron Hickman and Scott Volpitto will be joining Rubinson this weekend for the first tournament.
Hickman said Rubinson is well on his way to having a successful season.
“He got off to a good start winning the Fort Worth Men’s City Golf Championship,” Hickman said. “If he keeps it up, he will have a good year.”
Even though Rubinson wants to achieve personal success this year, he said it is more important to contribute to the team and meet his team’s goals.
“A team win is far more important to me than an individual win,” Rubinson said. “Our team is so deep. We have a number of really great, well-rounded players.”
Despite his recent individual success, Rubinson still continually works with his teammates to strengthen his game. Besides playing golf five days a week on a variety of golf courses around the Fort Worth area, the team meets with a conditioning coach twice a week at 6 a.m. Rubinson also works with David Cook, a sports psychologist, and practices with a swing coach.
By utilizing all the TCU golf program has to offer, Rubinson hopes to one day follow in the footsteps of his favorite golfer Tiger Woods and play golf professionally.
“We play wonderful golf courses all year long,” Rubinson said. “If I work hard and take advantage of being part of one of the country’s best golf programs, I know my dream will come true.”
Kelly Morris
k.l.morris@student.tcu.edu