Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Soccer Welcomes Ten New Student-Athletes
February 07, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Feb. 7, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas - After a successful 2007 season, the Texas Tech soccer team appears to be only getting better. Red Raider head coach Tom Stone announced today the addition of ten student-athletes to join the program in the fall of 2008.
"Throughout the recruiting process, our staff was thrilled at the level of enthusiasm we encountered for Texas Tech and the program we are trying to build here," Stone said. "We feel very fortunate to have been able to put together a 10-player class of such quality for 2008. Obviously, our 2007 season helped show that we are making progress. This class should definitely help us grow in that regard."
As a sign of Tech soccer's growing national presence, five players from the 2008 class hail from the East Coast, with three coming from Stone's former club, Tophat. Stone also coached the Atlanta Beat of the WUSA for all three years of its existence.
While Stone returned to the East, Red Raider assistant coaches Aaron and Ashley Gordon also returned to their roots, securing three players from their former club team, FC Dallas.
"We are also encouraged to have tapped some of the top youth clubs in the nation to bring to Texas Tech," said Stone. "We feel that their experiences at the highest levels of youth soccer will serve them well as they make the transition to the college game."
Adding to the 2008 class will be redshirt freshman Taylor Lytle, who returns after suffering a torn ACL prior to the start of the 2007 season. Lytle was named a NSCAA High School All-American and headlined the Red Raiders' 2007 class. Of the 10 signees, two (Lauren Yelinek and Lexi Castellano) were selected to a respective NSCAA All-Region team.
Tech had previously never had any player hail from Massachusetts, New Jersey or Georgia.
 Terry  |  |
Madison Terry - Midfielder
Rowlett, Texas - FC Dallas - Rowlett High School
Played for the FC Dallas '90 Youth club team beginning in 2006 under current Red Raider assistants Aaron and Ashley Gordon until their arrival at Tech ... her FC Dallas squad was the North Texas State Cup Quarterfinalists in 2006 and State Cup Finalists in 2007 ... played in Premier League Region III West in 2007 with Red Raider signees Casey McCall and Erin Villareal ...Three-sport athlete (Soccer, Cross Country, Track) for Rowlett High ... Three-year varsity letterman in soccer ... 2005-06 District 11-5A Offensive Player of the Year ... 2005-06 RHS Offensive Player of the Year ... led team in goals her sophomore and junior season ... 2004-05 Track Regional Qualifier in the mile ... Regional Qualifier in Cross Country for 2004 and 2005 season ... holds school record for best finish in regional meet (17th place in 2004) ... high school coach was Karen Valentini ... club coach was Chris Hayden
Coach Stone on Madison: "Maddie is quite skillful and smart which will serve her well in her role as an attacking midfielder for Tech. We saw Maddie score some great goals in her youth career and we are looking for the same results in a Texas Tech uniform as well."
 Hanson | |
Hope Hanson - Defender
Apex, N.C. - Tophat - Middle Creek High School
Played for the Tophat 08 Gold club team which was directed by Tech head coach Tom Stone before his hire at Tech ... team was the Region III Premier League Champions in 2006 and Georgia Champions in 2007 ... Georgia State Cup Semi-Finalist 2006 & 2007 ... Georgia State Cup Champions 2005 ... Region III Regional Semi-Finalists 2005 and quarter-finalist in 2007 ... played with Red Raider signees Kendyl Mygatt and Katherine Hardie while with Tophat ...Two-sport (basketball and soccer) athlete at Middle Creek High ... Three-year letterwinner for ELHS ... 2005, 2006, 2007 4-3A Region Champions ... named team captain all three years and Team MVP in 2005 ... was named Defensive Player of the Year in basketball ... high school coach was Edward Wasdell ... club coach was Ted Colburn
Coach Stone of Hope: "Hope is a club teammate of (Kendyl) Mygatt and (Kacy) Hardie at Tophat out of Atlanta and is a tough defender and a great tackler who can play center back or outside. We think Hope has great upside in the college game as her adjustment to the physical side of college soccer will be minimal."
 Ward | |
Dawn Ward - Midfielder/Forward
Midland, Texas - Dallas Sting - Midland High School
Played for the Dallas Sting club team, formally the Dallas Texans ... Traveled from Midland to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex often to compete at highest club level ... Lake Highlands D2 Champions from 2002 to 2007 ... 2007 Regional III Champions ... 2007 National Finalists ... 2004-2007 ODP North Texas State Team ... 2005-2007 ODP Region III Camp ... 2007 ODP National Championship Tournament ... 2006 North Texas State Cup Quarterfinalists ... 2007 North Texas State Cup Finalists ... 2007 Premier League ... Four-year letterwinner for Midland High ... 2005 All-District 3-5A Honorable Mention ... 2006 All-District 3-5A First Team ... club coach was Kenny Medina
Coach Stone on Dawn: "Dawn's game has wonderful balance. She is great at holding the ball, powerful in the air and can score goals or create for others. She will be a big help for us on the offensive end. Dawn's club team, Dallas Texans, played for the U17 National Championship last summer so she brings great experience and expectations with her to Texas Tech."
 McCall | |
Casey McCall - Defender
Frisco, Texas - FC Dallas - Justin Wakeland High School
Played for the FC Dallas '90 Youth club team with other Red Raider signees Madison Terry and Erin Villareal ... Tech assistants Aaron and Ashley Gordon previously coached the FC Dallas squad prior to their arrival in Lubbock ... 2004 North Texas State Cup Champions ... 2004 Southern Regional Finalists, USYSA Region III ... 2005 Southern Regional Quarterfinalists, USYSA Region III ... 2006 North Texas State Cup Quarterfinalists ... 2007 North Texas State Cup Finalists ... 2007 Premier League Region III ... Four-year letterwinner for Justin Wakeland High School ... Honorable Mention All-District 2005 ... First Team All-District 2007 ... Missed most of 2006 season with broken toe ... high school coach was Kim Colon ... club coach was Chris Hayden
Coach Stone on Casey: "Casey will be a relentless and physical presence in our defense. Casey is also one of the fastest defenders in Dallas and has the mentality that we are looking for in young players. Casey loves the battle and will be instrumental in dealing with the best forwards in the Big 12 for 2008."
 Villareal | |
Erin Villareal - Defender/Midfielder
Plano, Texas - FC Dallas - Frisco Centennial High School
Played for the FC Dallas '90 Youth club team with Red Raider signees Madison Terry and Casey McCall ... played under current Red Raider assistants Aaron and Ashley Gordon at FC Dallas beginning 2004 up until their hire at Tech ... 2006 State Cup Finalists ... 2005 Southern Regional Quarterfinalist ... 2004 Texas State Cup Champions ... 2004 Southern Regional Finalists ... One-year letterwinner playing for Bishop Lynch High before transferring to Centennial High her sophomore year ... First Team All-District 6-4A at defender for 2007 season at CHS ... First Team 6-5A All-District defender and CHS Defensive MVP in 2006 ... 2005 Bishop Lynch Defensive Player of the Year ... 2005 TAPPS State All-Tournament Team ... 2005 Honorable Mention All-District
Coach Stone on Erin:
"Erin has an extremely competitive personality. She is an outside back who loves to get forward. Erin could play a key role for us as we build a team that can attack out of the back. Erin also brings the necessary physical and psychological attributes to compete in the Big 12 and beyond."
 Fete | |
Maggie Fete - Midfielder/Defender
Warren, N.J. - PDA - Watchung Hills Regional High School
Played for the PDA Power club team under head coach Denise Reddy ... club was a 2007 state finalist ... Helped lead PDA Power to Region 1 Premier League finals in 2007 ... club team was a semifinalist at the Disney Soccer Showcase in 2006 ... New Jersey First Team All-Skyland Conference 2007 ... All-State 2006, 2007 ... South Texas ODP State Team 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 ... Classics Elite San Antonio (CESA) Senior Player of the Year 2005 ... CESA Junior Player of the Year 2004 ... Player's Player Award 2004 ... High School First Team All-District 2005, 2006 ... First Team All-Region 2006
Coach Stone on Maggie: "Maggie is very good at keeping the ball in midfield. She cruises the middle and can bring a lot of players into the game with her passing and movement in support. Maggie has played at the very highest level of youth soccer with her club team PDA out of New Jersey, and we are excited that she will bring that standard here to Texas Tech."
 Yelinek | |
Lauren Yelinek - Midfielder
Ludlow, Mass. - Boston Bolts - Minnechaug Regional High School
Played for the Boston Bolts club team ... 2007 State Champions ... 2006 Third Place at USYS Nationals ... 2006 Region I Regional Champions ... 2006 Mass. State Cup Champions ... 2006 State Cup U16 MVP ... 2005 Score at the Shore Champions ... 2005 Prince William Icebreaker Champions ... 2005 Oakwood Invitational Champions ... Western United, F.C. co-captain from 2003 to 2005 ... Four-year letterwinner while in high school ... NSCAA All-Region I ... 2007 All-New England ... 2006 and 2007 All-State ... 2006 and 2007 All-Western Mass. ... 2006 and 2007 All-League Selection ... 2005 Western Mass. Champions ... 2005 Division I State Finalists ... 2004 Western Mass. Finalists ... Member of Mass. ODP team 2001 to 2006 ... Selected to Ryder Cup ODP Team 2001 to 2006 ... Member of Region I 1990 Regional ODP Pool from 2001 to 2002 ...
Coach Stone on Lauren: "Obviously, quite a get for us out of Boston, Mass., and off of a terrific club team, the Boston Bolts. Lauren has an excellent all around game so we see her playing several different places for us but most likely in midfield. Lauren's great in possession and can get the offensive players the ball where and when they needed it."
 Hardie | |
Kacy Hardie - Midfielder
Atlanta, Ga. - Tophat - The Lovett School
Played with the Tophat Soccer Club with other Red Raider signees Hope Hanson and Kendyl Mygatt during the time Tech head coach Tom Stone was with the program ... 2005 Georgia State Champions ... 2006 & 2007 Georgia State Semifinalist ... 2006 Region III Premier League Champions ... 2004 & 2007 Southern Regional Quarterfinalist ... 2005 Southern Regional Semifinalist ... ODP State Pool 2005, 2006, 2007 ... Region Team Alternate 2006 ...Two sport athlete (soccer and basketball) at The Lovett ... Four-year varsity letterwinner and starter ... 2A state champions 2005 ... Elected captain senior year ... selected to AJC First Team All-City 2007 ... received Captains's Award junior year ... high school coach was Tony Patino ... club team coached by Todd Shulenberger and Ted Coburn
Coach Stone on Kacy:
"Kacy is a defensive midfielder with tremendous ability in the air. She can really dominate in that arena and will also be key in helping us keep possession and playing through midfield. Kacy is player who will play her best soccer in the college environment."
 Castellano | |
Lexi Castellano - Defender
Arlington, Texas - Dallas Sting - Martin High School
Played for the Dallas Sting club team (different team than Dawn Ward) ... ODP 2001-2003 ... Member of North Texas ODP '90 Team ... Four-year letterwinner for Martin High School ... NSCAA All-Region VI ... 8-5A All-District Second Team freshman year ... Team Defensive MVP 2005 ... Martin High MVP in 2006 and 2007 ... 8-5A All-District First Team as a sophomore ... All-Area in 2006 ... 2007 All-State and All-Region 5A ... 2007 District 8-5A MVP ... Fort Worth Star-Telegram All-Area First Team 2007 ... Dallas Morning News All-Area Second Team 2007 ... District 8-5A All-Tournament Team 2007 ... high school coach was Ruth Knight ... club coach was Brad Flanagan
Coach Stone on Lexi: "Smooth and composed is the best way to describe Lexi. She never looks rushed and is great with both feet. Lexi is primarily a defender but could see time at defensive midfield as well."
 Mygatt | |
Kendyl Mygatt - Forward/Defender
Marietta, Ga. - Tophat - Woodward Academy High School
Played for the Tophat club team during the time Tech head coach Tom Stone was with the program ... played with other Red Raider signees Katherine Hardie and Hope Hanson ... team qualified for the Georgia State ODP Team from 2003 to 2008 ... member of the Region III ODP Team from 2003 to 2008 ... four year captain for Tophat ... Two-sport athlete (soccer and swimming and diving) at Woodward Academy ... Four-year letterwinner in soccer ... named to the All-City AJC Honorable Mention and All-City AJC First Team ... high school coach was Tonia Webb ... club coaches were Todd Shulenberger and Ted Colburn
Coach Stone on Kendyl: "Great engine, relentless and fast are all physical attributes Mygatt brings to Texas Tech. She is also quite versatile as we have seen her play forward for her club team, Tophat, and outside back for the Regional ODP team. We are excited to see where she ends up helping us the most once she gets here."
