FORT WORTH, Texas – The UCF women’s soccer team overcame an early deficit with a pair of first-half goals from Tyra Eriksen and Alysiah Lockette to earn a 2-1 road victory over defending Big 12 champion TCU on Thursday night at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.
The win secured three valuable conference points for the Knights, who improved to 7-3-1 overall and 2-2-1 in Big 12 play. TCU fell to 5-5-1 on the season and 2-3-0 in conference action with the setback.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team tonight. To go down a goal on the road against a quality TCU team and respond the way we did says so much about our character and togetherness,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “Every player stepped up, competed for one another, and had each other’s backs. It was a complete team effort, and I’m incredibly proud of the fight, belief, and resilience we showed. These are three massive points on the road, and this is the kind of performance that shows what this team is capable of.”
With TCU holding an early 1-0 lead following Emma Yolinsky's ninth-minute opener, UCF responded in the 14th minute as sophomore Eriksen found the equalizer. Ainsley Moy and Gabi Berchon each earned assists on the play, with Berchon springing Eriksen into space with a well-placed through ball that allowed the sophomore to outrun the defense and slot home her second goal of the season.
14' | Tyra Eriksen ties things up with her second goal of the season 💥 https://t.co/NLy4R1q2El
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) October 9, 2026
The Knights struck again just five minutes later to take the lead. Guta Franke played the ball to Berchon, who delivered a perfectly weighted chip 35 yards downfield into the box for Lockette. Lockette met the pass with a header that sailed over TCU's goalkeeper and into the back of the net, giving UCF a 2-1 advantage in the 19th minute.
19' | Gabi finds Alysiah for the header ‼️ UCF 2, TCU 1 https://t.co/vbHB9VoGE7
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) October 9, 2026
With the clock winding down late in the half, Edidiong Etim looked to have a chance at the top of the box. TCU’s defense responded, however, by knocking the ball away just before she got off the shot, as UCF took the 2-1 advantage into the break.
The Horned Frogs looked for the equalizer early in the second half by putting the pressure on and getting off a couple of shots. But UCF countered with a pair of shots from the Big 12’s leading scorer Naomi Clark.
TCU’s Yolinsky later had a one-on-one opportunity in the 64th minute but the reigning Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week Kaïna Cesar was there to deflect it and Black and Gold defender Jada Silvest then came in to take the ball away to keep it a 2-1 advantage.
The Frogs generated a couple of chances late, but UCF’s defense stood firm and successfully protected its advantage down the stretch, securing the Knights’ first Big 12 road victory of the season.
In all, the two sides finished with 10 shots apiece and three shots on goal. Clark led UCF with three shots, while Berchon notched a pair of assists for the first time in her career.
Cesar saved two of the three shots sent her way to improve to 4-2-1 on the year.
The win marked UCF’s second straight and its first road Big 12 victory since Oct. 16, 2025, at Oklahoma State.
UP NEXT
The Knights will now return to the UCF Soccer Complex to welcome Oklahoma State to town on Sunday afternoon. The match is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. Following Sunday’s matinee, the Black and Gold will return to the road next week to take on No. 16/15 West Virginia in Morgantown on Friday, Oct. 16.
TICKETS
UCF women’s soccer season and single-game tickets are on sale now! Please visit ucfknights.com/tickets for more information or call the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.