A poorly taken free kick from Sam Houston State’s 18-yard box gave Texas Christian University’s freshman forward Emma Heckendorn the easy counter attack to break the 0-0 tie Sunday.

The freshman would provide the second goal for the Horned Frogs by heading a cross from teammate Jill Finnerty minutes later.

TCU would leave Huntsville taking the win 3-1.

The teams headed to the benches after 45 minutes scoreless.

The second half would kill the Bearkats the same way it did against Utah State Friday night.

“I thought we were very good in the first half,” head coach Tom Brown said. “I thought we competed very well, battled very well. [It] was just a couple mistakes in the second half.”

The Bearkats had the opportunity to strike first when SHSU was awarded a penalty kick in the 46th minute. However, junior midfielder Mariah Titus wouldn’t be able to convert the penalty the same way she did just two weeks ago at home.

Titus struck the ball straight at TCU’s senior goalkeeper Vittoria Arnold before the ball hit the crossbar and eventually handled by Arnold.

The Bearkats’ offensively created chances early, but their play would slag as the second half continued on.

Freshmen defenders Caitlyn Schwartz and Ashley Long started at centerbacks for the second game in a row. The two were able to contain the Horned Frogs’ attack until giving up the three-second half goals.

“We obviously need to improve on some stuff,” Schwartz said. “We just kind of got tired. We should have went in harder on some of those tackles.”

Freshmen Kela Gray buried a one-on-one against junior Kylie Hambleton.

As the Bearkats took the kickoff after TCU’s third goal, the Horned Frogs scored an own goal.

SHSU finishes non-conference play 1-6 with only five goals to its name.

The Bearkats begin Southland Conference play against Abilene Christian Friday at Pritchett Field.