Aug. 31, 2008

Box Score

LUBBOCK, Texas - After falling in its conference opener Friday, the Texas Tech soccer team rebounded with a 3-0 victory over the University of Texas-San Antonio Sunday at the UTSA Rec Sports Complex.

The match was one of career firsts for the Red Raiders as Taylor Lytle, Megan Hoffert and Kendyl Mygatt all connected on their first career goals, while freshmen Maggie Fete and Lauren Yelinek each earned their first career points.

Tech would get on the board in the 22nd minute as Lytle would take a Fete pass inside the box and beat the UTSA goalkeeper to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 halftime lead. Zhaleh Rezaie was also credited with an assist on the goal.

Midway through the second half, Hoffert would find the back of the net unassisted off a rebound in the box. Hoffert played a season-high 41 minutes in the match and attempted two total shots.

Later in the 79th minute, Mygatt would put the Red Raiders ahead for good as she took a pass from Lytle inside the box and knocked it in off the post. Along with Lytle, Yelinek was also credited with an assist on the goal.

Senior goalkeeper Tina Rincon collected her 10th career shutout in the win, which moves her within one of Stephanie Carter atop the school's all-time list. According to Tech head coach Tom Stone, Rincon and junior defender Brittney Harrison were the backbone of the Red Raider defense as the duo, along with freshman Casey McCall, were the only three Tech players to play all 90 minutes.

"This was a classic Sunday college game," Stone said. "You need to have mentality and depth (on Sunday), and we had just enough of both. I can't say enough about the freshmen. Some of them are really coming along, and I've said all year long that we will rely on the upperclassmen, but it was nice to see the freshmen step up."

The Red Raiders outshot UTSA 23-9 and attempted nine corner kicks to the Roadrunners' two. With the win, the Red Raiders improve to 2-1 on the season, while UTSA drops to 2-2 overall.

The Red Raiders travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn. next weekend as Tech faces Middle Tennessee Fri., Sept. 5, and Alabama A&M Sun., Sept. 7, in the Middle Tennessee Classic. Tech returns to the John Walker Soccer Complex on Sept 12, to face the University of Arizona.