Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech to Host Red Raider Classic
September 08, 2010 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 8, 2010
North Texas-Oral Roberts Preview
North Texas-Oral Roberts Notes 
• Red Raider Classic •
North Texas • Friday, Sept. 10 • 7:30 p.m. • John Walker Soccer Complex
Oral Roberts • Sunday, Sept. 12 • 1:30 p.m. • John Walker Soccer Complex
The Matches
After four-straight road games, Texas Tech soccer returns home to host the Red Raider Classic on Fri., Sept. 10 and Sun., Sept. 12. On Friday, Lamar and Oral Roberts play the opening match at 5 p.m., followed by Tech and North Texas at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, the first match features North Texas and Lamar at 11 a.m., followed by Tech and Oral Roberts at 1:30 p.m. All matches will be played at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
On the Web
Live stats will be available for all four matches this weekend, while live video stream will also be available for both Texas Tech matches at www.texastech.com.
The Red Raiders
Off to one of its best starts in school history, Texas Tech enters the weekend with a 5-1 record after getting its fifth-straight shutout of the year last Friday against Ole Miss, 2-0, and then suffering its first loss to No. 3 Notre Dame, 2-0, in the Inn at Saint Mary's Classic in Notre Dame, Ind. Junior Taylor Lytle scored the game-winning goal against Ole Miss as junior Casey McCall picked up her first assist of the year on Lytle's goal. Sophomore Dawn Ward scored the other goal against the Rebels. Senior goalkeeper Colleen Pitts recorded her fifth shutout of the year and the eighth of her career. Lytle, Ward and freshman Hayley Haagsma were all named to the All-Tournament team. On the year, Lytle leads Tech in points (9), shots (19) and is tied with freshman Jessica Fuston in goals (4). Fuston has a team-high 11 shots-on-goal, while fellow freshman Mallory Yacullo has a team-best three assists.
The Opponents
North Texas is 4-1-1 on the year after losing in double overtime at Sam Houston State on Friday and then tying New Mexico 1-1 on Sunday. On the year, freshman Kelsey Hodges has scored a team-high six goals to go along with 12 shots-on-goal. Sophomore Ellen Scarfone has collected four assists, while sophomore Michelle Young has a team-high 20 shots. Junior Julie Lackey has scored four goals on the year, with two of those being game-winning goals. Senior Mandy Hall is 3-0 in the nets, including two shutouts as she has played 395 minutes with eight saves. John Hedlund is in his 16th year as head coach of the Mean Green with a career record of 212-84-17.
Oral Roberts enters the tournament with a 2-2 record after falling to Missouri State, 4-0, last Friday. On year, senior Lorena Soto and freshman Mary-Kate Halsmer both have scored a team-best two goals, while freshman Jordan Parsons leads the team in assists with two. Freshman Jennifer Abernathy has a team-high nine shots. Senior Amanda Wheeler has played 315 minutes in the nets with 18 saves and a 1-1 record. Ryan Bush is in his third year at the helm of the Golden Eagles with a 16-21-1 record.
Series Records
North Texas ~ Texas Tech and North Texas are meeting for the ninth time in the series with the Mean Green holding a 4-3-1 advantage, winning the last three matches. Last year, Tech lost 2-1 in overtime in Denton on Sept. 6. The last time Tech was victorious was in a 3-0 triumph on Sept. 18, 1999, at home. Tech is 2-1 against UNT in Lubbock.
Oral Roberts ~It is the eighth time for the Red Raiders and the Golden Eagles to play with Tech leading the series 4-3. The last time the two met was on Sept. 18, 2008, in Lubbock with Tech getting the shutout, 4-0. Oral Roberts won on Sept. 9, 2005, 2-1, in Tulsa. The Red Raiders are 3-0 against ORU in Lubbock.
Looking Ahead
The last non-conference match is on Fri., Sept. 17, as the Red Raiders face-off against Alabama in Tuscaloosa at 7 p.m. Big 12 Conference action begins at Oklahoma on Fri., Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. The Red Raiders then play at Oklahoma State on Sun., Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. Tech opens Big 12 play at home on Fri., Oct. 1, vs. Colorado at 7 p.m. and on Sun., Oct. 3, vs. Nebraska at 1 p.m.
A Season of Firsts
After starting the season off 5-0, the Red Raiders have already made their marks in the record books. The 5-0 start is the best in school history against Division I opponents and to go along with those five wins have been five shutouts. The five shutouts is the first time in the program's history that a Tech team has begun the season with five-consecutive shutouts.
All-Tournament Team
Three Red Raiders graced the All-Tournament team at the Inn at Saint Mary's Classic hosted by Notre Dame. Junior Taylor Lytle, sophomore Dawn Ward and freshman Hayley Haagsma were all honored for their stellar performances that weekend.
Pitts Has Five Shutouts
Senior Colleen Pitts has picked up all five shutouts this season giving her a career total of eight. She currently stands fourth on Tech's career shutouts list.
McCall Gets First Assist
Junior defender Casey McCall got her first assist of the year on junior Taylor Lytle's game-winning goal versus Ole Miss. It marked the second assist of her career with the first coming last season against Iowa State.
Moving on Up
Junior Taylor Lytle continues to move up the charts on Tech's career lists. Lytle jumped to second on Tech's career shots list with 173. Her two points earned last week gives her 46 career points, which is tied for fifth all-time. Her game-winning goal against Ole Miss gives her five in her career, which ranks tied for fourth all-time. That goal also gave her 13 career goals, moving her to 10th (tied) on the career goals list. Sophomore Dawn Ward also jumped to eighth on the career goals list as she scored her 14th career goal in the game versus Ole Miss.
Receiving Votes for the First Time
Another first in the history of the program took place the week of Aug. 30, as the Red Raiders received votes in the NSCAA/HendrickCars.com National Rankings (top 25 poll). Tech got 14 votes in the poll which is voted on by a panel of Division I college coaches. Tech received eight votes in this week's poll.
Fuston Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
Freshman Jessica Fuston was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the week for her performances at Northwestern State and Rice. Fuston started both of Texas Tech's matches last weekend and played all 90 minutes at Rice. The freshman forward scored her third and fourth goals of the season on Sunday against the Owls and is tied for third in the conference with eight total points.
First Half Goals Tied for Second
Freshman Jessica Fuston's two first-half goals against TCU and Rice are tied for second on the single-game list for first half goals. The record for most goals in the first half is three set by Chessa Purser against Prairie View A&M in 2006 and Brittney Harrison versus Northwestern State in 2008.
Fuston Earns Honors
Freshman forward Jessica Fuston made her collegiate debut Aug. 20 and 22, and her standout efforts did not go unnoticed. The Cedar Park, Texas, native garnered TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week honors. Fuston was the only Big 12 player named to that week's team.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Senior goalkeeper Colleen Pitts received her first Big 12 honor as she was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 24, for her performances against TCU and Texas State. Pitts recorded two shutouts as she played all 90 minutes in both matches and tallied 10 saves on the weekend.
Four Freshmen See Quality Minutes
Four freshmen continue to see quality minutes in their first season of collegiate play. Three freshmen - Jessica Disabella, Jessica Fuston and Hayley Haagsma all started all four contests while Mallory Yacullo was one of the top non-starters in minutes played.
Filling the Stands
The Lubbock community continues to be big supporters of the Tech soccer team as the Red Raiders drew over 1,200 fans at each of the first two matches. Against TCU, 1,356 people witnessed Tech's season-opening victory, while 1,285 fans took in the Texas State win.
Lytle, McCall Named Captains
Tom Stone has called upon two juniors to lead this team as Taylor Lytle and Casey McCall have been named team captains for the 2010 season.
Lytle Preseason All-Big 12
After a stellar sophomore campaign, junior Taylor Lytle looks to continue on her success into 2010 as she was named preseason All-Big 12. Last season, Lytle became only the school's second player all-time to be named first team All-Big 12, while breaking the school's single-game and single-season assist records.
Williams Redshirting
Sophomore Conner Williams is redshirting the 2010 season after suffering a knee injury during summer club play.
From Freshmen to Sophomores
In 2009, three freshmen made a name for themselves throughout the season. Sophomores Dawn Ward, Tiffini Smith and Morgan Johnson were all three named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team. Tech received more freshmen recognition than any other Big 12 school.
Summer Success
This summer Texas Tech had seven players win a national championship at the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Overland Park, Kan. Sophomores Erin Wikelius, Conner Williams, Morgan Johnson and Haley Fowler and freshman Jessica Fuston were part of Lonestar `91 that won the U19 national championship, while freshmen Gabby Kaufman and Hayley Haagsma led Laguna Hills Eclipse to the national title for the U18. Haagmsa also received the Golden Ball as the tournament's MVP.
Attendance Records Set in 2009
Two thousand and nine saw the opening of one of the best soccer facilities in the country as the John Walker Soccer Complex made it debut. The 1,728 fans in attendance at Tech's home finale against Oklahoma State not only set a new John Walker Soccer Complex record, but it also broke the school record that was previously set against Notre Dame in 2004. The John Walker Soccer Complex attendance record was broken three different times last season as the program averaged 908 fans per match.
