Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Soccer to Host Red Raider Classic
September 08, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 8, 2011
Red Raider Classic Preview
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech soccer team will host the Red Raider Classic starting on Friday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. with TCU and Toledo facing off while the Red Raiders will take on Hofstra at 7:30 p.m. at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
This Week's Matches
TCU vs. Toledo, Friday Sept. 9 @ 5:00 p.m. @ John Walker Soccer Complex vs. Hofstra, Friday, Sept. 9 @ 7:30 p.m. @ John Walker Soccer Complex TCU vs. Hofstra, Sunday, Sept. 11 @ 10 a.m. @ John Walker Soccer Complex vs. Toledo, Sunday, Sept. 11 @ 12:30 p.m. @ John Walker Soccer Complex Live Video & Stats: www.texastech.com Twitter: @techathletics, @techgameday
The Red Raiders
Tech will welcome Hofstra,Toledo, and TCU to the friendly confines of the John Walker Soccer Complex for the Red Raider Classic this weekend. Tech and TCU will both face Hofstra and Toledo during the tournament. The Red Raiders are coming off a loss at No. 13 Florida. Tech is 3-2 on the season and will look to rebound Friday night against Hofstra.
Hofstra
Hofstra, a NCAA tournament team from a year ago, heads to the John Walker Soccer Complex with a 2-1 record on the season. Laura Greene leads the team with four goals on 14 shots. Hofstra has scored seven total goals on the season and only allowed one. The Pride is averaging 19 shots per match.
Toledo
Toledo is 2-2-1 coming into the Red Raider Classic. The Rockets are averaging 2.20 goals per match and have an average of 15 shots per match. Toledo started the season 0-2 before tying Louisville and than winning their last two matches.
Live Streaming
Every Texas Tech home soccer match this season will be streamed live at www.texastech.com. Fans are able to watch the action live from the John Walker Soccer Complex through Raider Vision All-Access at no cost. The streaming will have Texas Tech's KTXT 88.1 overlaying the game with play-by-play and color commentating during the game. Fans will be able to listen to KTXT 88.1 if they are not able to follow the action on-line.
Veterans, Active Military and First Responders Day
On Sunday, it will be Veterans, Active Military and First Responders Day at the pitch. All members will receive two complimentary tickets to the match. First responders will be on hand to handle first kick duties and a moment of silence will be held prior to the match in remembrance of September 11.
Corner Kicks
The Red Raiders have had success with corner kicks. Tech has had a 3-to-1 advantage in corner kicks on the season. The count is up to 27 for Tech and 12 for the opponents on the season.
Goals
Tech has scored four goals over five matches this season which unusually low during the Stone era. Tech's highest goals through five matches under Stone has been 16 (3.2 per match) in 2009. The lowest was in 2007 when the Red Raiders scored 9 (1.8 per match) goals throughout five matches.
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 are looking to break the school record for attendance of 1,728 set in 2009 against Oklahoma State.
Fourth-Straight Year
The 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.
Head Coach Tom Stone
Stone has a career record of 37-36-7 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.
Bring Cleats for a Good Cause
Any fan that brings a pair of new or slightly worn cleats will receive free entry into Texas Tech soccer matches throughout the entire season.
Promotions
Every game will have great promotions or fans to bring friends and family out to support Texas Tech soccer. The first 150 fans into the match on Sunday receive a free sandwich from Schlotzsky's. Fans can receive free admission if they bring a cell phone to donate for a soldier on Sunday. Any participant in Big Brother/Big Sister will receive youth price admission and their little brother/sister is free admission on Sunday as well.
