Sept. 4, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
STARTING OFF...
The Texas Tech soccer team turns to the road for its first true weekend away from home as the Red Raiders travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to face Middle Tennessee Fri., Sept. 5, and Alabama A&M Sun., Sept. 7, in the Middle Tennessee Classic.
ON THE AIR
Friday's match against Middle Tennessee will be streamed live over the Blue Raiders' official website, www.goblueraiders.com. The broadcast will be free of charge and carried for Friday's match only.
SCOUTING MIDDLE TENNESSEE
The Blue Raiders enter this weekend at 0-2-1 overall after opening its season with a 1-1 tie with Jacksonville State before falling to both Vanderbilt (2-1) and Belmont (1-0) last weekend. Middle Tennessee is led by Aston Rhoden, who is beginning his seventh season, having a record of 73-38-6 during his tenure. Selected fourth in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll, the Blue Raiders return 15 letterwinners and eight starters off the 2007 squad that finished 10-6-4 overall, which was good enough for second in the Sun Belt. Offensively, Middle Tennessee has been led by freshman forward Shan Jones, who has three points on the season, connecting on her first career goal against Vanderbilt. In goal, the Blue Raiders have used both junior Erynn Murray and sophomore Kela Casiple, who combine have collected 17 saves, a .810 saves percentage and a 1.24 goals-against average.
SCOUTING ALABAMA A&M
A year after qualifying for the NCAA Championship, Alabama A&M finds itself at 1-2 early in the season after losses to Tennessee-Martin (2-1) and Kennesaw State (8-0). Last weekend, the Bulldogs won their home opener against Austin Peay, 2-1, before it's Sunday match at Southern was postponed because of Hurricane Gustav. Alabama A&M returns 13 letterwinners and eight starters from its 2007 team that claimed the school's second SWAC Championship title and finished 10-7-3 overall before falling to Georgia in the NCAA Championship first round. The Bulldogs have only played a total of 13 players through three matches, totaling three goals and no assists during that stretch. Racquel Johnson has played every minute in goal for the Bulldogs, allowing 11 goals, while collecting 13 saves.
KEEP AN EYE ON...SENIOR GOALKEEPER Tina Rincon
With two shutouts already on the season, senior goalkeeper Tina Rincon has quickly moved within one of Stephanie Carter atop the school's all-time list as Rincon now has 10 shutouts over her Tech career. Rincon is second currently in the Big 12 in saves with 15, while her two shutouts lead the conference.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
In 2007, the Red Raiders had only two goals in the first half, the first against Nebraska in Tech's 12th match of the season and the other versus Missouri in the first round of the Big 12 Championship. Tech has five first half goals through three matches this season, already doubling last year's total. The Red Raiders are also on pace to top last season's goals and assists totals as Tech has connected on nine goals and seven assists. Tech finished the 2007 campaign with 22 goals and 14 assists.
RINCON INCHING CLOSER UP CAREER LISTS
Through three matches this season, senior Tina Rincon has further proved why she will graduate as one of the top goalkeepers in Texas Tech history. With two shutouts already, Rincon has moved within of Stephanie Carter for most career shutouts as Rincon currently sits in third all-time with 10 shutouts. Brittney Peese had 10.5 shutouts from 1998 to 2001 for second all-time. Rincon is currently second in the Big 12 in total saves this season with 15, while her .833 save percentage ranks fourth.
LYTLE STARTING SEASON STRONG
Finally healthy after sitting out the entire 2007 season because of injury, redshirt freshman Taylor Lytle has begun the 2008 campaign off strong, totaling four points through three matches, while also scoring her first goal in Tech's 3-0 win over UTSA. Lytle's two assists are currently tied for second in the Big 12, while her four points are second on the team with Brittney Harrison.
NEWCOMERS ACHIEVE CAREER FIRSTS AGAINST UTSA
Last Sunday's match at UTSA was one of firsts for many Red Raiders as freshmen Taylor Lytle and Kendyl Mygatt, along with junior Megan Hoffert, connected on their first career goals. Fellow freshmen Maggie Fete and Lauren Yelinek also notched their first career point in the match as both had assists.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Raiders return to the John Walker Soccer Complex Fri., Sept. 12, to face Arizona to begin a three-match home-stand. Tech will also host Northwestern State on Sun., Sept. 14, and Oral Roberts on Thurs., Sept. 18, before resuming Big 12 play Sept. 26, at Oklahoma State.
TECH RANKED 13TH IN SOCCER BUZZ CENTRAL REGION
For the second-consecutive week, the Red Raiders find themselves among the top 15 in the Soccer Buzz Central Region poll. Tech remained No. 13 in the poll this week after debuting in the slot in the publication's preseason rankings.
REZAIE PICKING UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF
Late in the 2007 season, possibly no other Red Raider was finding their stride offensively like junior forward Zhaleh Rezaie as the Plano, Texas, native had five goals over the final seven matches, including two against Missouri in the first round of the Big 12 Championship. So far in 2008, Rezaie has two goals and two assists through three matches, while leading the Red Raiders in points with six.
TECH LEADING AT THE HALF
After not leading a match at the half once in 2007, the Red Raiders have entered halftime with the lead in all three matches this season. Prior to the start of the season, Tech had not gone into the half with a lead since Oct. 10, 2006 when the Red Raiders led 1-0 over Texas State. The Red Raiders ended up defeating the Bobcats, 3-0.
HOME STREAK COMES TO THE END
Dating back to the 2007 season, the Red Raiders were riding a four-match home winning streak enterring last weekend's loss to Colorado. The streak was Tech's longest such streak in Lubbock since the beginning of the 1996 season when the Red Raiders opened the year with four-consecutive home victories.
STONE LOOKING FOR STRONG PERFORMANCE IN NON-CONFERENCE
After getting over the learning that was his first season, Tech head coach Tom Stone is looking to strengthen the one part of Tech's 2007 record that was less than desirable, the non-conference. The Red Raiders opened last season with a 2-3-1 non-conference schedule, but had two matches against Stephen F. Austin and Jackson State cancelled.
HARRISON OPENS SEASON WITH BIG GAME
Red Raider junior defender Brittney Harrison continues to show why she is one of the top players in the country. The Plano, Texas, native connected on two goals in last Friday's season opener against Lamar, with both coming within less than a two-minute stretch. Harrison now has 14 goals over her Tech career, which is tied for seventh on the school's all-time list.
JOHN WALKER SOCCER COMPLEX
Tech's newest facility on campus, the John Walker Soccer Complex, officially opened in Tech's season-opening 4-0 victory over Lamar. Named after Tech alum and donor John B. Walker, the stadium is not expected to be completed until Sept. 12, when the Red Raiders face Arizona. Complete with seating for around 1,400 fans, an awning and a pressbox, the John Walker Soccer Complex will quickly become one of the nicest soccer facilities in the country. Prior to the 2009 season, the Red Raiders will move into a new field house that will be equiped with state-of-the-art locker rooms, coaches' offices, a players' lounge and athletic training facilities. The John Walker Soccer Complex is located on 10th Street off the Texas Tech Parkway, which is west of University Medical Center.
RED RAIDERS SELECTED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON CONFERENCE POLL
If the Texas Tech soccer team is going to finish in the top half of the Big 12 for the second-consecutive season, it will once again have to defy the odds as the Red Raiders were selected to finish seventh among the league's 11 participating schools in a preseason poll of conference coaches. The Red Raiders were predicted to finish 11th in 2007 before finishing fifth and advancing to the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 1999. Texas led the poll with 94 points, while Texas A&M and Missouri completed the top three with 93 and 77 points, respectively.
RINCON, SIMS NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS
Prior to the season, the Red Raiders voted seniors Shannon Sims and Tina Rincon to serve as the team's captains. Sims, a midfielder from Plano, Texas, started all 17 matches last season, while Rincon added to her already impressive career numbers, adding 97 saves and five shutouts in 2007. Rincon is third all-time in career saves and shutouts with 217 and eight, respectively.
MIHELICH JOINS THE RED RAIDERS
Sophomore Leanne Mihelich joins the Red Raiders this season after transferring from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Mihelich led the Trojans as a freshman in both goals with nine and points with 22. She will miss the first several weeks of the season with a foot injury.
STONE ADDS 12 FRESHMEN FOR SECOND SEASON
In his first recruiting class, head coach Tom Stone found much needed depth to an already talented Tech roster, adding 10 freshman - Lexi Castellano, Maggie Fete, Hope Hanson, Kacy Hardie, Casey McCall, Kendyl Mygatt, Madison Terry, Erin Villareal, Dawn Ward and Lauren Yelinek - on signing day last February. Both Lauren Clary and Jordan Johnson walked-on to the team during preseason practices.
DE LEON, WARD OUT FOR SEASON
Both sophomore Karen De Leon and freshman Dawn Ward will miss the entire 2008 season with injuries. De Leon, one of Tech's top freshman a year ago, connected on two goals and provided two assists in 2007, while Ward was the top prospect in the 2008 recruiting class.
TECH TO HOST TEN MATCHES IN 2008
The Red Raiders will find a more favorable schedule in 2008 as Tech will host 10 home matches. Tech will also lose its "Lone Ranger" status from a year ago where the Red Raiders had to play a Big 12 opponent on both Fridays and Sundays, while each other conference opponent had an open date within its schedule. On top of five non-conference home matches, Tech also hosts national-powers and in-state rivals Texas (Oct. 12) and Texas A&M (Oct. 24). Four of Tech's five road conference matches are against Big 12 North opponents, Kansas (Oct. 3), Missouri (Oct. 5), Iowa State (Oct. 17) and Nebraska (Oct. 19).
