Texas Tech University Athletics
Lauren Dabner Signs With Texas Tech Soccer
May 28, 2015 | Women's Soccer
The Texas Tech soccer program added Lauren Dabner (pictured above) to its roster on Thursday as the New Zealand standout signed a financial aid agreement with the Red Raiders.
May 28, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech head coach Tom Stone picked up an important commitment for the 2015 season Thursday with the signing of New Zealand standout Lauren Dabner to a financial aid agreement.
Dabner, a New Zealand Youth National Team member throughout her career, will join the Red Raiders as a freshman for the 2015 season where she will be expected to contribute immediately in the midfield.
"Lauren Dabner is a real find this late in the process," Stone said. "Lauren is terrific on the ball and possesses a level of maturity by virtue of her time with the New Zealand Youth National Team and the national women's league she plays in that will be key in her successful transition to the college game. We are thrilled to have Lauren join the Red Raider soccer family this fall."
This is the second time Stone has gone oversees, specifically to New Zealand, to sign an international prospect as he inked former standout goalkeeper Victoria Esson in 2011. Esson ended her Tech career as a two-time All-Big 12 selection and as the school's all-time career leaders for goals against average (0.76) and shutouts (29).
Dabner is a current teammate of Esson with Coastal Spirit FC in the Mainland Pride Federation, the top women's league in New Zealand. Dabner was named the Mainland's Youth Player of the Year in 2013 as well as the Coastal Spirit FC Women's Player of the Year in both 2012 and 2013.
Dabner has also been heavily involved with the New Zealand national teams as well as she was a member of the Under-17 FIFA World Cup roster in 2012 and is part of the pool of players for U-20 qualifying next fall.
The Christchurch, New Zealand native will be one of 14 freshmen on the Texas Tech roster this fall as the Red Raiders will be looking to advance to the NCAA Championship for a fourth-straight season.
In addition to several significant additions to the program, Stone returns an experienced group that includes 19 letterwinners and eight starters from his 2014 club that advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
