FORT WORTH, Texas — Kamdyn Fuller rose highest to head home a corner kick in the 90th minute, rescuing No. 2 TCU from the brink of elimination and forcing extra time against North Carolina in their NCAA Tournament second-round match Monday night at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.
The Horned Frogs and Tar Heels played to a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes before TCU advanced 4-3 on penalty kicks before 1,684 fans.
North Carolina appeared destined for an upset when Bella Devey struck in the 82nd minute. Riley Kennedy played a ball into the box, and Devey met it with a powerful finish into the top of the net, sending the visiting contingent into celebration. TCU, dominant at home all season, suddenly faced elimination with eight minutes remaining.
The Horned Frogs pressed desperately for an equalizer. Sydney Becerra swung a corner kick into the box in the 90th minute, and Fuller attacked the delivery, directing a header past goalkeeper Hannah Johann to level the match and send the home crowd into delirium.
The first half produced a tactical stalemate with neither side finding a breakthrough. TCU earned early corners in the 3rd and 35th minutes but couldn't convert. North Carolina's Caitlin Mara fired wide from a set piece in the 35th minute, and Hope Munson sent an effort over the bar four minutes later. The teams combined for 15 fouls in a physical opening 45 minutes but went to the break deadlocked at 0-0.
The second half belonged almost entirely to North Carolina's attack — and to TCU goalkeeper Olivia Geller.
Geller produced a masterclass in shot-stopping, denying the Tar Heels time after time. Olivia Thomas tested her three times in a 15-minute span, forcing saves in the 47th, 53rd, and 60th minutes. Linda Ullmark's low drive in the 62nd minute looked destined for the corner until Geller sprawled to her left to push it wide.
Devey grew increasingly dangerous as the half progressed. Her curling effort in the 72nd minute cannoned off the woodwork, and Geller denied her follow-up attempt a minute later. Ullmark forced another save in the 77th minute as North Carolina's pressure mounted.
When Devey finally beat Geller in the 82nd minute, it seemed the dam had broken. But Fuller's late heroics ensured the match would continue.
The overtime periods mirrored the second half's pattern. Thomas tested Geller again in the 95th minute of the first extra period, and Devey forced yet another save four minutes later. TCU managed just one threatening moment — Emma Yolinsky's shot in the 101st minute that Johann handled comfortably.
Neither side could find a winner through 110 minutes, sending the match to penalties. TCU converted four of its five attempts while Geller and the Horned Frogs held North Carolina to three, securing the 4-3 shootout victory.
Geller finished with nine saves across 110 minutes, repeatedly keeping TCU's tournament hopes alive. Johann made two saves for the Tar Heels. North Carolina outshot TCU 16-4 overall.
TCU (18-2-3) extended its unbeaten home record and advances to host Vanderbilt in the third round Saturday at 7:30 p.m. North Carolina's season ends at 13-7-2 despite dominating possession and chances throughout.