Frogs survive road trip
Wome n’s soccer ties Arkansas, beats OSU
by Doug Sharkey
skiff staff
Despite the long bus ride and the back-to-back schedule of the past weekend the women’s soccer team managed to tie Arkansas and defeat Oklahoma State.
Assistant coach Blake Amos said the road trip was physically taxing on the team, but the women managed to stay focused for both games.
“The trip was very long and it took its toll on us physically,” Amos said. “We haven’t done a road trip of that extent in years.”
Despite receiving little rest between games, Amos said the Frogs had better stamina and conditioning than either opponent in last weekend’s contests.
Head coach David Rubinson said he was pleased with TCU’s performance during the difficult two-day road series.
“After a 0-0 tie and having to play 120 minutes on Saturday, it was very difficult to have to turn around on Sunday and play again,” said Rubinson. “I give the kids a lot of credit for producing a victory.”
Although this weekend was deemed a success, the team still has definite areas to develop and progress in before conference play begins, senior defender Jackie Rodriguez said.
“Every game we’re getting better and better,” she said. “(The problem is) we’re not playing two halves of soccer, we’re playing only one half.”
The Frogs began their series on the road in Fayetteville against Arkansas. TCU out-shot the Razorbacks 13-12, but could not capitalize on its scoring opportunities. Each team went back and forth throughout both halves and were ultimately forced into overtime.
Neither team scored in overtime, and the game ended in a scoreless tie.
Rodriguez said although the defensive element was present, it was unfortunate the Frogs were unable to produce an effective offensive attack.
“Scoring is a big factor,” Rodriguez said. “We were in their end of the field for most of the second half, but we had trouble finishing our shots.”
The game gave freshman goalkeeper Shannon Wagner her second shutout
of the year and put the Horned Frogs at 3-2-1 for the season.
After a quick night’s rest the Frogs were once again on the road, this time traveling to Stillwater, Okla. to face Oklahoma State.
TCU took an early lead after a goal by freshman midfielder Rebecca Repasky.
TCU grabbed a 2-0 lead at the beginning of the second half when junior midfielder Jenn Coulson scored on an assist by junior midfielder Tiffany Goetz.
OSU revived its offensive attack as freshman Kim Graves capitalized off an assist by senior midfielders Mercy Morrical and Andi Lute to cut the Frogs’ lead to 2-1.
The Cowgirls scored again before the end of regulation, forcing the game into overtime at 2-2.
TCU scored the game-winning goal in the 111th minute as sophomore forward Sherry Dick put TCU ahead 3-2. OSU was unable to respond and the game ended in a Horned Frog victory, improving TCU to 4-2-1.
Rubinson said he was happy where his team was going, but he hopes the women can put those unfortunate losses and ties behind them.
“We’re very disappointed with the losses but at the same time that’s history,” Rubinson said. “I still think we’re searching for a personality.”
Doug Sharkey
d.h.sharkey@student.tcu.edu
Frogs already searching for recruits
Football team receives oral commitments
By Chad Carey
staff reporter
After signing one of the most highly regarded recruiting classes in TCU football history last February, the Horned Frogs are picking up where they left off.
TCU has already received seven oral commitments from high school football players across the state. The first day a recruit can sign an official letter of intent is on Feb. 2. Until then, all oral commitments are non-binding.
Director of Football Operations Charley North said TCU is expecting several recruits to attend this weekend’s game against Northwestern, but was unable to comment on who they were because of NCAA recruiting regulations.
Head football coach Dennis Franchione has said the Horned Frogs have made great attempts at recruiting the Dallas/Fort Worth area and the state.
“We’ve been doing a great job in this area,” Franchione said at media day in August. “Of our 17 signees last season, 11 of them came from this area. So far, we’ve got seven or eight from this area (orally committed) for next year.”
Geoff Ketchum of Lone Star Recruiting said the Frogs have become much more visible and enticing to recruits in the last couple years.
“Top recruits across the state are really looking at the Frogs,” Ketchum said. “The value of their scholarship has really risen after their consecutive bowl wins. Recruits are really starting to look at their program.”
Among the recruits that have already orally committed to the Frogs, three are on the Lone Star Recruiting Texas Top 100 list, and five are ranked in the top 100 at their position nationally, according to Rivals Recruiting Service.
Of the seven commitments so far, Mark Pierce, a tailback from Weatherford High School, stands out statistically. Pierce rushed for nearly 2,500 yards and 40 touchdowns last year as a junior.
“I decided to commit to TCU after I got back from their one-day camp,” Pierce said in an interview with Lone Star Recruiting. “I heard their coaches wanted to offer me a scholarship and I called them up. After talking to their coaches on the phone for a while, I decided to commit.”
Ketchum said Pierce could be a future team captain for TCU. He also said Pierce is one of the state’s most physically intimidating players.
The Frogs have also picked up early commitments from two offensive linemen, Shane Simms of Tomball and Stephen Culp of Tyler. Culp earned all-district honors as well as all-East Texas honors as a junior last year.
“Culp is a player whose stock is really rising,” said Max Emfinger, a recruiting analyst for Rivals Recruiting. “With a good senior season, he could be regarded as one of the state’s top three or four offensive linemen.”
Joining Pierce, Simms and Culp as early commitments is La Grange quarterback Ty Gunn.
“I love the coaches,” Gunn said in an interview with Rivals Recruiting. “I feel I fit into their offense and can hopefully play early.”
The 6-foot-4-inch Gunn chose the Frogs over the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the University of Houston. Emfinger said he could be considered one of the top high school quarterbacks at the 4-A level.
Flander Malone, Matthew Grimlett and Michael Wynn round out the Frogs early commitments.
Malone, a defensive back from Dallas, runs a 4.4 40-yard dash. Wynn, a kicker from Midland, is ranked as the No. 6 place kicker in the nation according to Rivals Recruiting and averages more than 43 yards a punt.
rimlett, a wide receiver from Snyder, caught 39 passes for 836 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior.
Chad Carey
chadcarey@mindspring.com