Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Closes Homestand Against Baylor, Oklahoma
October 01, 2009 | Women's Soccer
Weekend Preview Oct. 1, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Coming off a strong start to Big 12 play, Texas Tech wraps its six-match homestand at the John Walker Soccer Complex against Baylor in the annual Battle for the Brand match at 7 p.m. Friday, before tackling Oklahoma at 1 p.m. Sunday.
THE BAYLOR SERIES
After dropping the first 10 matches in the series, Tech has claimed the last three meetings, all of which have come after the Battle for the Brand trophy was originated.
SCOUTING BAYLOR
Baylor opened Big 12 play last weekend scoring a point with a 0-0 tie against Texas, after dropping a 1-0 decision to Texas A&M. The Bears are 4-2-3 on the season, having played two common opponents with Tech, North Texas (2-1 loss on Sept. 11) and UTSA (1-0 overtime victory on Sept. 20).
Lotto Smith and Hanna Gilmore lead the Baylor offense with nine points each, while goalkeepers Gianna Quintanna and Courtney Seelhorst have combined to allow only five goals so far. Head coach Marci Jobson is in her second season in Waco after posting a 5-10-3 record a year ago.
BATTLE FOR THE BRAND
Originally initiated by former Tech and Baylor coaches Neil McGuire and George Van Linder, the Battle for the Brand match is in its fourth season of existence. The Red Raiders have never retained the Battle for the Brand trophy last year for the third-consecutive year, beating the Bears, 2-1, in double-overtime.
THE OKLAHOMA SERIES
Tech has historically had the most success against Oklahoma over any other Big 12 school, going 5-6-1 all-time. The Red Raiders are 1-0-1 against the Sooners under head coach Tom Stone, with the lone win coming in a 2-1 double-overtime match last year in Lubbock.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
After starting the season 5-0, Oklahoma has won only two of its last seven matches, but started Big 12 play 1-1 after a 3-2 victory over then-No. 13 Texas A&M last weekend. Whitney Palmer has been OU's answer on the offensive end as the junior as a team-high 10 goals, which is currently second in the Big 12. The Sooners have played one common opponent with Tech in Vanderbilt, who defeated OU, 3-1, on Sept. 6.
Besides Palmer, Dria Hampton is next on the team with eight points, including a team-high four assists. Kelsey Devonshire has played every minute in goal, collecting a Big 12-leading 55 saves, while allowing 15 goals. Head coach Nicole Nelson enters her second season in Norman after a 3-15-1 first year.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - Haley Fowler
After coming off the bench in five of Tech's non-conference matches, freshman Haley Fowler (pictured above) made her first career start last weekend against Iowa State. The Odessa native played every minute against the Cyclones, helping post Tech's second shutout of the year. Fowler played all 110 minutes in Sunday's 3-3 tie against Nebraska.
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND
The Red Raiders got off to their best start in conference play since 1997 with a 2-0 shutout over Iowa State and a 3-3 tie against Nebraska. Tech had not previously opened the Big 12 without a loss in its first weekend since 1997.
LOOKING AHEAD
After six-straight matches at home, the Red Raiders travel north next weekend to face Kansas on Oct. 9 and Missouri on Oct. 11. Tech returns to the John Walker Soccer Complex on Oct. 16 for its home finale against Oklahoma State.
RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY SET FOR FRIDAY
Texas Tech will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. Friday for the John Walker Soccer Complex prior to the match against Baylor. Director of Athletics Gerald Myers, head coach Tom Stone, and the facilities' namesake, John Walker, will all make presentations during the ceremony.
ATLANTA BEAT REUNION
The Battle for the Brand match will be an Atlanta Beat reunion of sorts as every coach from both teams had an association with the now defunct team during its three-year existence. Things were pretty much the same on the Beat sideline just like they are now at Tech as Tom Stone served as the head coach with Aaron Gordon serving as his top assistant. Baylor head coach Marci Jobson was a player with the squad, while her husband Paul, BU's associate head coach, worked in ticket operations. Baylor assistant Chuck Codd's wife, Charmaine Hooper, was the team's star player at the time, while Tech assistant coach Ashley Gordon was the technical director of the Cobb Futbol Club located in Atlanta.
ON-WARD GOALS
Dawn Ward continued her tear on opponents last weekend, netting her team-leading eighth goal of the season against Iowa State, which is third in the Big 12. Ward enters the weekend with goals in three of Tech's last four matches, with her last two goals being game-winners, which were her first of her career.
LYTLE STILL NATIONAL ASSIST LEADER
Taylor Lytle still shares the national lead for most assists after the sophomore added her ninth of the season against Iowa State. The assist also matched the Tech single-season record, held by Kristi Patterson (1994) and Kristy Frantz (1998). With one more assist, Lytle will tie Patterson for second on the school's career chart.
MIHELICH SPARKS TECH AGAINST HUSKERS
After missing the first half of the season, Leanne Mihelich came off the bench last weekend to spark Tech with two goals against Nebraska. The junior pulled Tech to a 2-1 deficit right before halftime and tied the match at 3-3 in the 56th minute, with both goals being her first since transferring to Tech prior to the 2008 season.
OFFENSE CONSISTENTLY PUTTING UP GOALS
For the first time in school history, the Red Raiders have not been shutout in its first 11 matches as Tech is average 2.64 goals per game. Tech's offense is ranked 24th in the nation in scoring offense as has scored two goals in all but two matches this season.
COSMO GIRL
Maegan Wilber may be one of the most versatile student-athletes to walk the Tech campus. Not only does she play a physically demanding sport in soccer, but she also has made time to model for several publications, including the September edition of Cosmo. A broadcast journalist and political science double-major, Wilber recently took the LSAT in hope of going to law school.
PITTS POSTS FIRST CAREER SHUTOUT
Junior goalkeeper Colleen Pitts posted her first career shutout in Tech's 2-0 victory over Iowa State. The Dallas native was making her second-consecutive start against the Cyclones. Freshman Erin Wikelius made her seventh start of the season the following match against Nebraska, playing all 110 minutes.
