Texas Tech University Athletics
Soccer Kicks Off Series of Home Matches
September 08, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 8, 2006
By: Brandon Hughes
No matter how obvious or subtle the advantage is, there is little doubt that home field plays a big role in most sports. The Red Raider soccer team is glad to be home and hopes Lubbock is friendlier than Indiana was.
After spending the weekend up North and playing the likes of Indiana and Purdue, the Red Raider soccer team looks to get back on track this weekend as they begin a stretch of six straight matches in the friendly confines of R.P. Fuller Stadium.
Forward Kim Cypert said the Red Raiders decided to play too late into the games this past weekend. Cypert said they were lazy at first, but once they decided to play, she said they felt like they dominated.
"The most important thing is to start having passion to want to win and not to just accept that we're going to win games," Cypert said.
Cypert also specifically talked about the importance of the fans being in attendance.
"We also want the fans to be there and having them all hyped up and learning all the cheers," Cypert said. "It's really going to help us being at home just so we don't forget we're representing this school and not just ourselves."
"We've worked hard, but it's going to pay off."
Head coach Neil McGuire echoed Cypert's sentiments.
"Any time you can bring the fan excitement up, it's going to encourage and make the team play harder which in turn will hopefully bring better results,"
The combination of quality talent and maturity is something McGuire puts a lot of value towards.
McGuire said that the team already possesses the level of athleticism to play at the very highest level, but said the experience is still lacking, but not too far behind.
"Once we gain experience and the players have the maturity to play at that level, I think we'll be fine," McGuire said.
With a roster full of freshmen who are relatively unaccustomed to balancing classes and road trips, McGuire said the upcoming matches in the Hub City will help settle the nerves of the team.
"Any time you go through a hard preseason where you start classes and then you're on the road for three or four days, that's not an easy adjustment to make," McGuire said.
McGuire added that the Red Raider soccer team seems to be gelling nicely and team chemistry is high. He said that it is clear to him to see the cohesiveness the girls have on the field.
The Red Raider soccer team hosts Prairie View A&M on Friday at 7 p.m. Then, on Sunday, they host Colorado College at 1 p.m.
