No. 7 TCU soccer unfazed by new expectations

Expectations may be changing for TCU’s soccer program. That’s bound to happen after winning back-to-back Big 12 regular-season titles and the program’s first tournament title in 2021.

The mindset that helped the Horned Frogs reach those historic milestones has remained the samethis preseason as TCU seeks to become the first program to finish atop the Big 12 standings for a third straight season since West Virginia (2012-16).

“Our mentality is we still have stuff to prove and we never really talk about what happens in the past. The past is the past and we’re focused on the future and competing to win more Big 12 championships and a national championship,” head coach Eric Bell said.

TCU like midfielder Payton Crews echoed Berry’s thoughts.

“After every game, whether it’s good or bad, our coaches remind us to keep our highs low and our lows high. I think that’s going to be a big thing for us this year is keeping our egos low and focus on growing and playing well and playing TCU soccer. We can’t let the outside noise get to us and impact how we’re playing,” Crews.

Crews is one of 10 seniors or super seniors Bell will rely on the maintain the culture he’s established in his 11 seasons at the head of the program.

What does Crews mean when she says TCU soccer? One word you could use is entertaining.

“We want to value the ball, keep it and pass it. You could call it an attractive brand of soccer while trying to score goals. We want to have the lion’s share of the ball,” Bell said.

The Horned Frogs’ attacking style works hand-in-hand with their home field advantage and the Texas heat.

“If we can do that, especially here at (Garvey-Rosenthal Stadium) in August and September; it’s going to be warm, so by the 70th minute if we’re doing things the way we want to do, teams will be really fatigued. Hopefully we’ll be able to open them up and do the things we want do,” Bell said.

TCU had no problem accomplishing that last year as the Horned Frogs scored 60 goals to lead the Big 12 in scoring while finishing tied for sixth nationally.

Super senior forward Messiah Bright scored almost a third of those as she set a school-record with 17 goals and 40 points. Bright isn’t just a prolific scorer, she’s also clutch as she tied for the team-high in game-winning goals with four.

“She’ll probably be a first round draft pick in the NWSL. She’s handful,” Bell said. “I’ve had a chance to practice against her when our numbers are down and she’s hard to deal with. From her athleticism to her creativity to goal scoring and her heading quality is quite good as well. She just has all kinds of tools in her bag to be effective.”

Bright is one of four returners that were named preseason All-Big 12. Gracie Brian, Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year Lauren Kellett and Camryn Lancaster join Bright as a pretty strong nucleus for a team that will enter the season ranked No. 7 nationally.

The Horned Frogs will have plenty of experience, but will also have to rely on newcomers from a 10-woman freshman class.

Bell and some of his veterans have been impressed by how quickly they’ve acclimated.

“Introducing them to the way we play and the style that we play, I think we’ve already done a good job of that. They got adjusted to our team really fast,” midfielder Michelle Slater said.

Mentally the most encouraging thing around the program seems to be how every player has remained hungry for another title run. There’s no sense of entitlement from the super seniors to the younger players.

“I feel like everyone’s on the same page. You can tell we’re locked in and we’re really gunning for a championship,” Slater said.

The first step to that begins with Wisconsin, who the Horned Frogs will host Thursday at 7 p.m. The Badgers advanced to their third Sweet 16 in four seasons in 2021.

Wisconsin also returns its top three scorers from last season in Emma Jaskaniec, Natalie Viggiano and Claire Odmark. It’ll be a solid test right out of the gate.

“They’re a really gritty, hard-working soccer team. So it’s going to be important that we go out and continue to play TCU soccer while also matching their physical mindset,” Crews said.