Walbruch's brace helps BYU upend top-seeded TCU on penalties in Big 12 tournament opener

FORT WORTH — BYU women's soccer was the last team into the Big 12 Tournament that kicked off Monday, the No. 8 seed against a juggernaut TCU (15-2-1) that won the league with a 9-1-1 record.

The Horned Frogs never had to play the Cougars.

They may not want to again for a bit.

Ellie Walbruch recorded a brace, and BYU stunned top-seeded TCU on penalty kicks 4-2 in the opening round of the Big 12 women's soccer tournament in Fort Worth, Texas.

With starting goalkeeper Paiton Collins on the mend following an ACL injury in the regular-season finale at Utah, Chelsea Peterson got her first start since transferring to BYU from the U., and made good use of it.

The redshirt junior who hadn't played in close to two years before coming out of "retirement" — as an on-campus student following an 18-month church mission in England — made eight saves in 110 minutes to boost the eighth-seeded Cougars in the upset win over the regular-season champions.

Walbruch gave the Cougars the early lead, finishing with her preferred right foot inside the left side of the goal in the 27th minute. But Sydney Becerra pulled one back just after halftime to equalize for the Horned Frogs.

Walbruch again put BYU in front, securing a 2-1 advantage with a glancing free kick off the far post in the 51st minute as BYU took a 2-1 lead.

But Becerra helped equalize again, this time finding teammate AJ Hennessey in the 70th minute to help the tournament hosts force overtime at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.

TCU nearly found the go-ahead goal, out-shooting the Cougars 23-9 including 10-5 on frame. But the Frogs hit the post on several occasions, and Peterson made eight saves to keep the

Walbruch, Mackenzee Vance, Izzi Stratton and Lucy Kesler each converted from the penalty spot int he shootout. So, too, did TCU's Seven Castain — the former Waterford star from Draper who led the semipro Utah United to a USL W League championship this past summer — and teammate Kamdyn Fuller.

But Cameron Patton struck h er blow off the woodwork, and Katana Norman's miss left TCU upset 4-2 on penalties.

BYU will face fifth-seeded Baylor, which upset No. 15-ranked Texas Tech on penalties in the first quarterfinal, in Wednesday's semifinals. Kickoff from Fort Worth is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. MST on ESPN+.

The Cougars likely secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament with a 9-6-3 regular-season finish. that included a top-eight finish in the Big 12 and the No. 33-rated RPI.

But a win over the TCU, which is ranked fourth nationally in the RPI and one of five Big 12 teams ranked in the top 15, will add to the Cougars' case to host a tournament game. At the very least, it should improve seeding, while TCU heads home for a week off before the selection show Monday, Nov. 10.

The tournament championship is Saturday at 6 p.m. MST in Waco, Texas.

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