Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Soccer Kicks-Off
August 16, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 16, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas - Red Raider soccer begins to prepare for the 2007 season. Tom Stone was named head coach earlier this summer.
The Red Raiders will practice both mornings and evenings for the next two weeks to prepare for the season. The morning practice will begin 8 a.m. for the rest of the week. Next week the morning practices will begin at 9 a.m. All evening practices are at 6:30 p.m. at R.P. Fuller Stadium.
"Preseason for us has been interesting to say the least. It is pretty rare that a new coaching staff would enter into a season with 20 players that they have never worked with and have barely two weeks to prepare for a college season against Big 12 level competition," Stone said. "The players are getting to know us for the first time as well and have to adjust to our expectations in a short period of time. Given these challenges, we finally saw some competitive fire in the second session of the second day which gives us a ray of optimism for this group and something we can build from."
The soccer program welcomes a new coaching staff and seven newcomers. Stone is entering his first season with Tech and has hired two new assistant coaches, Aaron Gordon and Ashley Gordon.
"I am most looking forward to our non conference schedule. There are plenty of teams on our early schedule who will give us an idea of where we stand," Stone said. "We open at Georgia and follow up with Vandy two days later. This is the best UGA team ever and Vandy was an NCAA second round team last year. The results not withstanding, we will certainly know more about our players/team and where we need to go from there after that weekend."
Tech will face West Texas A&M in a scrimmage on Aug. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at R.P. Fuller Stadium. The season will get underway Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. at the University of Georgia.
"Our goalkeepers have been very good so far," Stone said. "Colleen Pitts and Tina Rincon have come in ready to battle and both have been aggressive and confident in training. With all of the changes in the team, it has been a relief to find our keepers ready to go. There is not much to be disappointed by with the exception of the injury to our top incoming freshman, Taylor Lytle, who was in top form before tearing her ACL and being forced to red shirt. Lytle was playing at a very high level and looked even better than advertised. This kid can really play so we are looking forward to having her on the field in 2008."
All home games will be played at R.P. Fuller Stadium this season. For tickets to Texas Tech soccer, please contact (888) GO-BIG-12 or (806) 742-TECH or stop by the Texas Tech Athletic Ticket Office in the north end of Jones AT&T Stadium. Tickets also can be purchased through the Texas Tech athletic website at www.texastech.com and at area United Supermarket and Select-a-Seat locations.
