Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Split Weekend Games with UTEP
April 14, 2011 | Women's Soccer
April 14, 2011
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech soccer team concluded its spring season last weekend by splitting a two-game series with UTEP at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
On Saturday, the Miners defeated Tech, 2-1, while the Red Raiders came back to shutout UTEP, 1-0, on Sunday.
"It was a challenge to play two full games in two days with such a small roster, but it was also a great opportunity to try a lot of things within our team over the course of 180 minutes," said head coach Tom Stone. "We got to play players in new spots and some showed very well in adapting to their new roles. The back-to-back format also allowed us to play different formations and be able to work on the nuances of each against the same team."
In the first game, Tech surrendered two first-half goals on a direct kick and a ball that bounced off the cross bar before getting tapped in by UTEP. However, the Red Raiders' near comeback started early in the second half when sophomore Tiffini Smith scored her first goal of the spring when she knocked in a rebound from 12 yards out.
As well as UTEP played on Saturday, Stone thought his team had come back. "I thought we'd come all the way back when Taylor Lytle beat the three players and broke in on goal, but her shot banged off the cross bar and that was our last best chance to equalize."
In the game on Sunday, it was the Red Raiders who controlled the match from the start to finish, peppering the UTEP final third with pressure and chances. The opening moment saw sophomore Dawn Ward beat her defender down the wing and just miss a quality chance to the far post. It was Ward again on a similar run down the left side, which left her well inside the box to hammer home the game winner early in the first half of play.
"Dawn was sharp and fresh since she did not get many minutes on Saturday," Stone stated. "She was taking on her defender from the opening minutes and was rewarded for her assertive play with a goal."
Ward, who has 17 goals for the Red Raiders in only two seasons so far, had two goals over five games this spring. The Tech defense gave up very little on Sunday as they shutout a speedy and aggressive UTEP offense.
"Shutting out a team is always something to be happy about, however, it was more than a backline effort. I thought all 11 players were really committed to defending on Sunday," Stone said.
Sunday's game proved to be a better defensive performance by the Red Raiders.
"We were way better defensively on Sunday, which led to better possession and attacking chances at the other end," commented Stone. "Although it was a spring match with development on our mind, the results Saturday certainly played into our mindset in the last part of the Sunday game. We played well to close it out. It's always good for development to practice securing a win when you have the lead."
Tech finished the spring season with a 3-2 record. Ward and sophomore Sarah Ellison led Tech with two goals apiece, while Smith and freshmen Jessica Fuston and Jessica Disabella all scored a goal. Technical and fitness testing will round out the training before taking a break for final exams in May.
The Red Raiders open the 2011 season against Rice on Fri., Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., at the John Walker Soccer Complex. Tech will release its 2011 schedule in the coming weeks, which features 12 home games. In 2010, Tech finished in the top 10 in attendance among all Division I schools and hopes to continue that with the great support from the Texas Tech students and the Lubbock community.
