For many, it may seem like TCU appeared from nowhere to reach the first College Cup in program history. However, a closer look reveals a different story, one where Head Coach Eric Bell and his staff spent years reshaping the culture of the program with quality coaching and recruiting. 

To understand the full picture, a brief history lesson is needed. When the former Florida State associate head coach took over the job in 2012, the Horned Frogs were brand new to the conference and had never reached an NCAA tournament in the program’s then 26-year history. Since breaking that barrier in 2016, TCU has not looked back, qualifying in nine of the following ten seasons as Bell earned four Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.

Behind that remarkable surge has been a tactical base of forward-thinking soccer and excellence on the recruiting trail. The last five years have seen the three-time Big-12 regular season champions bring in five nationally ranked classes, four in the top 25 and two in the top 10. Seven Castain, who leads the team in goals, came is as the No. 103 ranked recruit in 2022; Cameron Patton, who has started 44 matches though her first two seasons, was ranked No. 63 in the 2024 class; another from that stellar 2024 class was No. 99 ranked Liv Geller who has emerged as one of the best shot stoppers in the country; and the latest recruiting class was highlighted by No. 62-ranked Kamdyn Fuller, who will go down in program lore as a Big 12 Freshman of the Year who also scored the dramatic last second equalizer in the Sweet Sixteen. Then you also have overlooked gems like Grace Coppinger, who came in as an unranked prospect in 2022, received Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors, and is now a senior who leads this historic College Cup team in minutes.

However, quality recruiting alone does not guarantee college soccer success; substance is required when those prospects arrive on campus. Whether integrating blue-chip freshmen or coveted transfers like Sydney Becerra, Bell and his staff have built a culture where talented individuals buy into a high-pressure, possession-oriented style that excels both on the counter and with long spells of possession. This combination of top-notch coaching and outstanding recruiting has been the foundation of TCU’s first-ever College Cup run.

Ten Key Moments:

08/14/2025 - Begins season with 6-1 victory over Pepperdine, sending a national message on crew final. 

08/21/2025 - Defeats No. 7 Iowa 3-2 to pass first true test of the year.

09/28/25 - Castain scores hat trick in 3-2 victory over No. 9 Kansas, giving the Horned Frogs a 3-0 Big 12 start.

10/09/2025 - Seven Castain comes in at No. 8 in the TDS Midseason Player Rankings.

10/10/2025 - No. 15 Kamdyn Fuller and No. 28 Emma Yolinsky both make the TDS Freshman Player Rankings.

10/30/2025 - Defeats Houston 2-0 to lift fourth Big 12 regular season trophy in six years.

11/04/2025 - The Big-12 All-Conference recipients are recognized with TCU receiving nine honors. Kamdyn Fuller is named Freshman of the Year and Eric Bell as the Coach of the Year. Joining on the list are Morgan Brown, Cameron Patton, Sydney Becerra, Seven Castain, Grace Coppinger, AJ Hennessey, Emma Yolinsky, and Grace Vest.

11/14/2025 - Horned frogs defeat Grambling State to begin NCAA Tournament. Castain bags a hat trick in a 7-0 win.

11/24/2025 - Fuller equalizes with six seconds remaining in the Sweet Sixteen.

11/29/2025 - 2-1 overtime victory at Vanderbilt sends program to first College Cup ever.

Ten Key Statistics:

• Horned Frogs are in the College Cup for the first time in program history.

• TCU is undefeated through eight games on the road this season.

• Castain leads the team with 17 goals, the most a TCU player has scored in a single season since Messiah Bright in 2021. 

• Castain (38), Yolinsky (23), Becerra (20), Patton (16), AJ Hennessey (15), Fuller (11), all have double-digit points.

• Grace Coppinger leads the team with 2036 minutes played.

• Becerra and Roller are tied for the team lead with 8 assists.

• Castain, Patton, and Coppinger are only three to have started every match.

• Has not lost a regulation soccer match since October 2nd.

• Second Big 12 team to reach the College Cup in three seasons.

• 12 different goal scorers.