Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Soccer Receives Invites to U.S. National Team
January 12, 2010 | Women's Soccer
Jan. 12, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech freshman Tiffini Smith and sophomore Taylor Lytle, along with head coach Tom Stone, will all join separate U.S. National Teams for various camps throughout the month of January.
Both Smith and Lytle will train at the national team headquarters, Home Depot Center, in Carson, Calif. Stone will travel to Guatemala with his Under-20 squad, who will compete for a shot in the 2010 U-20 World Cup
Smith earned All-Big 12 newcomer team honors in 2009 after netting two goals, while adding two assists, from her defensive midfield position. She arrived for training on Sunday and will remain with the U-18 team until Jan. 18.
"Tiffini really grew up during her freshman year," Stone said. "She found her rhythm in our system at about the midway point and finished the season as one of the best midfielders in the Big 12. Tiffini's opportunity to go in with the U-18 National Team will challenge her once again to meet the standard found in that environment. Tiffini's commitment to training, fitness and being a soccer player 365 days-a-year will serve her well in this high-level environment, and we are thrilled for her to have this opportunity."
Lytle further added to an already impressive Tech resume this season as she posted a school-record 11 assists, while adding four goals for 19 total points - second-highest on the team. Lytle also broke the school records for assists in a single match (three against TCU) and shot attempts in a single season (91). After only two seasons, she ranks second on the school's career assist chart and eighth on the career points list. Lytle was also named to the 2009 All-Big 12 first team.
She will join the U-23 team on Wednesday before returning on Jan. 20. The U-23 team is a step just under the national team and is comprised of players who will likely join the professional ranks next year.
"This is certainly a well-earned opportunity for Lytle," Stone said. "Taylor will be challenged to take her game to a new level by the overall environment found in the national team program. Many of the players in this camp will be full team players one day and most will be drafted to play in the Women's Professional Soccer League next year. Although Taylor will be amongst the youngest players in camp, it will be exciting to see her measure herself against these high level players. I have no doubts that Taylor is ready for this and will show well."
Stone, on the other hand, will join the U-20 squad as an assistant coach for the second-consecutive World Cup cycle, which occurs every two years. Stone will work under UCLA head coach Jill Ellis, whose Bruins advanced to the NCAA College Cup for the seventh-consecutive season in 2009.
The team will travel to Guatemala on Jan. 17 for World Cup qualifying. The top two teams will advance to the U-20 FIFA World Cup to be held in Germany this July. Stone's first trip with the U-20 squad ended with a World Championship in 2008.
"First of all, it is an honor to be asked to join the United States U-20 coaching staff again for this cycle," Stone said. "Helping the last U-20 team win the world championship was a memorable experience for all of us, and we are now charged with trying to win it in back to back cycles, which has not been done before by any country."
"This is a completely new group with only two holdovers, and they are definitely on track to be amongst the best in the world but we have a long way to go before another championship could become a reality. This qualifying tournament could be tricky but hopefully we will qualify and be off to Germany for the finals in July."
Fans can keep up to date with all three Red Raiders as the trio is expected to talk regularly with texastech.com throughout their time with the U.S. national teams.
