Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
UTSA
Five Red Raiders Net Goals In Rout of UTSA
August 21, 2009 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 21, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech had five different goal scorers on its way to a 5-0 rout of UTSA Friday night in the regular season opener at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
With the win, Tech has now won three of its last four season openers, including the last two. The Red Raiders have defeated UTSA in all four career meeting since the Roadrunners formed their soccer program in 2006.
"I think we're going to grow every time we play," Tech head coach Tom Stone said. "Tonight I think we came with a little more emotion than we did in the preseason, and I think that was the difference. We came out of the locker room ready to play, and we have to do that to be successful."
Brittney Harrison got Tech off to a quick start in the fourth minute, taking a rebound from a blocked pass attempt to curt the ball just inside the right post, marking the second-straight season Harrison had a goal in the season opener.
Dawn Ward added to the Tech scoring 11 minutes later, finding the back of the net off a Zhaleh Rezaie pass from the midfield to give Ward her first collegiate goal. The redshirt freshman was making her first career start after missing the 2008 season due to a knee injury sustained in high school.
Sarah Ellison would add her first career goal in the 25th minute as she fired from 27-yards out to the right side of the net. Ellison and Ward led the Tech offensive attack as the duo combined for 11 of Tech's 26 total shot attempts.
Meanwhile on the defensive side, the Tech's backline was able to keep UTSA without a shot attempt for most of the first half as the Red Raiders held a 3-0 lead at the break.
Maegan Wilber kept the Tech momentum going early in the second half, taking advantage of a misplay by UTSA goalkeeper Dacia Webb for the open-net goal, while Karen De Leon added Tech's final goal off the rebound from a Harrison blocked shot attempt. The goal was De Leon's first since 2007 as the sophomore redshirted the 2008 season following a preseason leg injury.
The Red Raiders maintained a 26-4 shot advantage in the match and attempted 15 shots-on-goal compared to the Roadrunners' two. In goal, Erin Wikelius collected two saves as her and Colleen Pitts shared the shutout.
"It was a great night for the program and for the team," Stone said. "This is a good way to start the season and be 1-0. It's kind of a soft opening of our new facility, and I thought we had a great crowd. The whole team played well, and everyone got to play, so it takes us a step closer to get ready for our road trip."
The 762 fans in attendance also got their first glimpse of Tech's new soccer house, which the team moved in at the start of fall camp. The state-of-the-art facility houses both Tech and opponent locker rooms as well as coaches' offices and athletic training equipment, making the complex one of the nicest soccer venues in the nation.
The Red Raiders will spend the next three weekends on the road, beginning next weekend in El Paso, Texas, against Utah State on Aug. 28 and UTEP on Aug. 30. Tech returns to the John Walker Soccer Complex Sept. 18 to face Alabama as part of the Red Raider Classic.
