Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Hits the Road to Face No. 13 Florida
September 01, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 1, 2011
Florida Preview
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech soccer team will travel to Gainesville, Fla., for its first road match of the season as it faces No. 13 Florida at the James G. Pressly Stadium on Friday, Sept. 1.
This Week's Matches
at No. 13 Florida, Friday, Sept. 2 @ 7 p.m. James G. Pressly Stadium
Live Video & Stats: www.gatorzone.com (video with subscription)
Twitter: @techathletics, @techgameday
The Red Raiders
Texas Tech dropped its first match of the season to Ole Miss, 1-0, Friday night at the John Walker Soccer Complex. The team bounced back quickly and beat Saint Mary's 2-0. Jessica Disabella and Haley Haagsma both scored their first goals of the season in the win. Haagsma's goal was the first of her career. The Red Raiders are now 3-1 on the season
Florida
No. 13 Florida welcomes Tech with a 3-1 record. The Gators started the season on a three-match winning streak that included a win over No. 18 Texas A&M. Florida was then shutout by No. 15 UCLA. It will be the home opener for the Gators. Statistics wise, Florida has held opponents to only one goal in the second half and have outshot opponents 28-25 in the first half. Taylor Travis is the team's leading goal scorer with two. Erika Tymrak, the Gator's leader in shots, has two assists on the season.
Live Streaming
Fans will be able to follow Gametracker for the match with Florida by going to www.gatorzone.com. Live streaming is available but a subscription is needed to view the match on Friday night.
SEC History
The Red Raiders will be looking to improve on its all-time record against the Southeastern Conference. Tech is 4-11 all-time against the SEC. The last win came last season on Sept. 3 and the Red Raiders defeated Ole Miss, 2-0, on the road. The Red Raiders have lost its last two matches with the most recent being this season's 1-0 loss to Ole Miss.
First Meeting
This will be the first meeting between Florida and Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have played the SEC 15 times over its history. Tech has given up 20 goals over its 15 matches and allowed 29.
Ranked Opponent
This will be Tech's first time to play a ranked opponent this season. The last time Tech played a ranked team was No. 10 Oklahoma State last season in the first round of the Big 12 Championship tournament. The Red Raiders fell 3-1 to Oklahoma State.
Stellar Defense
The Red Raiders defense has only allowed one goal in 360 minutes of action. The single goal came in Tech's only loss of the season which was to Ole Miss. Victoria Esson and Gabby Kaufman have been credited with shutouts this season. Esson shutout Rice and New Mexico State and Kaufman held Saint Mary's scoreless.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Goalkeeper Victoria Esson was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (8/21) for her stellar play against Rice and New Mexico State. In her first career start for the Red Raiders, Esson made five saves against Rice and changed the momentum late in the match. The sophomore came to the top of the box and stood up the attacker and dove at her feet to grab the ball and take the threat away. The Red Raiders held on for the 1-0 win. The next match, Esson made two saves to preserve a 1-0 victory over New Mexico State, which gave Tech a 2-0 start to the season.
Co-Captains
Taylor Lytle and Casey McCall were named co-captains of the Red Raider soccer team. Both are team captains from a year ago. Lytle is ranked fifth on the career points list with 50 and is only two assists away from becoming Tech's all-time career leader. McCall has been a defensive leader over the past three seasons and led the team in minutes played with 1821 last year.
Weekend Attendance
The Red Raiders had the second-highest weekend attendance on opening weekend with 2,467 in attendance. The previous high was the 2010 season-opening weekend, where 2,641 were in attendance at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
Home Sweet Home
The John Walker Soccer Complex has not only become one of the top facilities in the nation to watch soccer but also one of the best home-field advantages as well. Tech finished last year with a 7-2 record at the pitch and attendance average was No. 12 nationally. The Red Raiders had the second-best Big 12 attendance average and are looking to break the school record for attendance of 1,728 set in 2009 against Oklahoma State. Tech has had three sellouts in the three years at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
Fourth-Straight Year
Friday night's victory over Rice was not only its fourth-straight season-opening victory but also its fourth-straight season-opening shutout. Tech started the steak in 2008 with a 4-0 win over Lamar while in 2009 a 5-0 victory over UTSA kept the steak alive. Last season TCU came to town and the Red Raiders prevailed 3-0.
Preseason All-Big 12 Team
The Red Raider soccer team, for the first time in program history, placed two players on the Preseason All-Big 12 Soccer team as Jessica Fuston and Taylor Lytle were both honored. Fuston was the 2010 Big 12 Rookie of the Year and a second team selection to the All-Big 12 team. She led the team with 11 goals and 24 points last season. It is the second-straight year Lytle was named to the preseason team.
Returning Goal Scorer
Tech returns its top goal scorer from last season in Jessica Fuston. The 2010 Big 12 Rookie of the Year scored 11 goals and finished the season with 24 points. Fuston was an All-Big 12 second-team selection and a member of the Big 12 All-Newcomer team.
Head Coach Tom Stone
Stone has a career record of 37-34-7 going into his fifth season at Tech. The Red Raiders have advanced to the Big 12 Championship in every season under Stone. Last season the squad won the most games (11) since Tech won 13 back in 1996.
