Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Texas State
Texas Tech Gets Second-Straight Shutout
August 22, 2010 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 22, 2010
Box Score | Action Photo Gallery 
LUBBOCK, Texas - Getting its second-straight shutout, the Texas Tech soccer team defeated Texas State, 2-0, on Sunday evening in front of the 1,285 fans in attendance.
The win marked the first time since 2006 and the first time in the Tom Stone era that the Red Raiders have started the season 2-0 and with consecutive shutouts.
"We knew it was important to start 2-0," said Stone. "We were committed in these two games to take an undefeated record on the road next week. I think Casey McCall's leadership is just the steady rock for us. She is tough and great in the air for us and one of the best players in the air in the conference. Her leadership and Whitney Sharpe's attacking skill down the right have really stood out for us so far."
Texas State (0-1) looked to score first in the sixth minute, 30 yards out, but the shot went wide. The Bobcats took a shot-on-goal from 20 yards out in the 13th minute but senior goalkeeper Colleen Pitts made the save.
In the 24th minute, the Red Raiders were denied when freshman Jessica Fuston banged her header off the post from freshman Jessica Disabella's cross.
Four minutes later Tech had three shots in rapid succession in the box with two shots-on-goal by Fuston and sophomore Haley Fowler but both were saved.
The Red Raiders got on the board in the 30th minute as junior Taylor Lytle got the ball from freshman Mallory Yacullo and dribbled 18 yards out past three defenders and placed the ball in the lower right corner of the net.
In the last minute of the first half, sophomore Tiffini Smith got a cross from junior Sharpe but her shot attempt went wide right.
Tech took a 1-0 lead into the half.
The second half started well for Texas State as the Bobcats got a free kick in the 53rd minute that was struck well on frame but Pitts jumped up and tipped the ball high over the cross ball for the save.
However, the Red Raiders responded quickly as sophomore Sarah Ellison picked up the ball inside the attacking half and played it forward to sophomore Dawn Ward who turned and ran at the back line. Ellison then overlapped Ward and was on the receiving end of a soft slip pass from Ward. Ellison calmly placed the ball in the far side of the net for the 2-0 lead.
The Red Raiders threatened again with 26 minutes left as a sliding Fuston took a cross from Lytle that went just wide.
With 16 minutes left, Disabella took a shot 25 yards out that went off the top crossbar. Fuston was in the box as the ball came off the crossbar and attempted to head it in, but her shot went high.
The shutout marked the fifth in Pitts' career moving her one shy of being tied for fourth on Tech's career shutout list.
Tech will now hit the road for four-straight matches starting this week at Northwestern State on Fri., Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. and again at Rice on Sun., Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.
