Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Soccer Team Primed for 2011
August 15, 2011 | Women's Soccer
August 14, 2011
by Britton Drown
Texas Tech Athletics Communications
There is a certain, almost unfamiliar level of excitement surrounding the Texas Tech soccer program as the second half of August approaches--and it's not just because the official start of season is peeking from just around the corner.
Of course, that too has the energy level inside the John Walker Soccer Complex on the rise. This year though, there is something unique building from within fifth-year head coach Tom Stone's program.
When his team takes the field for their season-opener on August 19 against Rice, they will be doing so with much of the same firepower from last year's squad. Alongside them though, will be a freshmen class that brings a level of experience that is expected to make an immediate impact.
Highlighting the class are freshmen Jaelene Hinkle and Erin Inman. Combined, the two bring unprecedented experience straight into the Texas Tech locker room.
 Erin Inman attended the 2010 Portugal Algarve Cup Invitational as a member of the Region II Olympic Development League.  | |
And that, he stressed was pivotal in building upon a team that already took significant strides a year ago.
"That's where you start to be able to win games and be competitive in games, and give them quality minutes right off the bat." Stone said.
But with their deep background in soccer, it becomes clear that Hinkle and Inman's ability to adapt to the college game is not necessarily surprising.
During their high school careers, the two played club soccer at the most competitive of levels as both were members of U.S. national teams.
"Every time you step on the field, you are pretty much on the best team in the world if you are a U.S. [national team] player." Stone said.
Hinkle, a defender who comes to the Texas Tech program from Denver Colo., was a member of Real Colorado for four years, serving as the captain during the 2010-11 season. Hinkle was also a member of the 2010 U17 National Team Player Pool, and the USA U17 World Cup Qualifying team.
In 2011, she was invited to the U20 National Team Camp and had college offers from Texas A&M and Oregon before ultimately deciding to join Stone's team at Texas Tech.
| "If they invest in their game like I suspect they will, then there is no limit," |
It's an impressive resume, which Hinkle says has helped prepare her for what the college game brings.
"I feel like just because of the players that you are surrounded with on the club level, you learn a lot more than you would in high school." Hinkle said. "But I feel like at the club level it's a lot more of an intense environment, and you really grow."
Meanwhile, Inman brings an equally impressive background. The midfielder from Austin, Texas brings two years of experience playing on the Lonestar Soccer Club, a program ranked fourth in the Elite Club National League.
She also spent 2010 in the Olympic Development League where she was member of the Region III team that attended the Portugal Algarve Cup Invitational.
"Club was a whole different competition level," Inman said. "It gave us a good boost to what we could look forward to going into college."
The two enter a program primed to build on the successes of a season ago. In 2010, the Red Raiders had one of the most successful seasons in program history. Texas Tech went 11-8-1 and advanced to the Big 12 Championships for the fourth-consecutive season.
And so, the expectations for the 2011 season have been set high.
Last week, the Red Raiders were picked to finish 5th in the Big 12 pre-season poll, marking their highest ever pre-season ranking in program history. Furthermore, two Red Raiders, sophomore Jessica Fuston and senior Taylor Lytle, were named to Preseason All-Big 12 squad, marking the first time in program history that Texas Tech has placed two players on the preseason squad.
Fuston was a unanimous selection after scoring 11 goals and 24 points in 20 matches last season on her way to earning Big 12 Rookie of the Year and All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
And so, when the Red Raiders begin their season on August 19 in their home-opener, so too do the careers of some of the most talented freshmen in Texas Tech soccer history.
It should be a fun ride.
"If they invest in their game like I suspect they will, then there is no limit," Stone said. "They both can go a long way in soccer."
