Sports

TCU Women’s Soccer Robbed Of Penalty Kick By Controversial Handball That Spoiled Semifinal Overtime

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TCU Soccer Handball Controversy Florida State Amin Hadzic penalty kic
© Kylie Graham-Imagn Images

TCU lost to Florida State during the semifinal round of the women’s college soccer playoffs on Friday. The Horned Frogs were just inches away from an opportunity to tie the game because of a handball.

A penalty kick was not granted.

Although a single officiating decision does not determine the final outcome of a college soccer match, the opposite ruling would’ve tied the score with less than 15 minutes remaining. Overtime was imminent.

TCU women’s soccer made school history.

The Horned Frogs went 18-3-3 overall and 9-1-1 in the Big 12 to earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament. It was the best season in school history.

TCU dominated Grambling State and Memphis during the first two rounds of the postseason and held off North Carolina in the third round on PKs to reach the quarterfinals. It upset No. 1 Vanderbilt last Saturday to advance to the semifinals.

The Final Four of college soccer is also known as the College Cup.

Unfortunately, the run is over. TCU lost 1-0 to No. 3-seed Florida State in its first-ever College Cup match on Friday. Olivia Geller stayed hot in goal but she could not quite reach a strong effort from the Seminoles off a left-footed volley in the box that resulted in the first goal of the game in the 73rd minute.

It was also the only goal of the game. The Horned Frogs had multiple chances to level the score in the closing minutes and one particular run right before the final buzzer looked especially promising.

Nothing was able to hit the back of the net and their season came to an end with a 1-0 loss.

A handball controversy proved to be the difference.

TCU fired a goal-bound shot on net in the 77th minute. The shot was blocked by the outstretched arm of Seminoles defender Heather Gilchrist.

Head referee Amin Hadzic went to the monitor to review the play. He ultimately ruled that it was not a handball offense because the ball hit the torso of the defender before it hit her arm. Take a look:

The Horned Frogs were set to receive a penalty kick if the play was ruled a handball. A successful penalty kick would’ve tied the score at one goal apiece, which would have resulted in overtime.

Hadzic did not award the penalty kick. TCU lost.