Texas Tech University Athletics
Former Soccer Standouts Set To Take On the World
July 29, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Janine Beckie and Victoria Esson will make their 2016 Olympic debut next Wednesday.
LUBBOCK. Texas – Two of the most decorated players in Texas Tech soccer history will compete on the highest level of women's soccer in the 2016 Olympics beginning Wednesday. Janine Beckie, Texas Tech's all-time leading goal scorer, will suit up for team Canada, while former goalkeeper Victoria Esson will don the black and white to represent New Zealand and the Football Ferns.
Beckie, a three-time All-American, completely rewrote the offensive record book during her four seasons in Lubbock. The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native ended her collegiate career as the all-time leader in goals (57), shot attempts (441), game-winning goals (22) and points (130).
Her contribution of 14 goals in the 2015 season earned her Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Honors for the second-consecutive season. Her game-winning goal against second-ranked West Virginia led to her earning the 2016 Big 12 Championship Offensive Most Outstanding Player.
Beckie capped her four-year career in historic fashion as the Red Raiders were able to secure their first-ever Big 12 Soccer Championship which sent Tech to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-consecutive season.
Beckie joined the Canadian National team following her junior season, spending the entire spring semester in residency with the team. She trained with the Senior National Team in preparation for the 2015 FIFA World Cup and earned her first career cap on Nov. 26, 2014, in a 1-1 draw against Sweden.
Beckie will look to add depth at the forward position for the Canadian Women's National Team that features world class-athletes like Christine Sinclair and Josée Bélanger.
Esson, a 2014 graduate of Texas Tech, was named to the New Zealand Olympic Squad for Rio 2016 on July 4. Esson, who completed her four year career as Texas Tech's all-time career shutouts leader with 29, is looking to make her first appearance with the Football Ferns in Rio.
Esson, a native of Christchurch, New Zealand, ended her Tech playing career with the best career goals against average in school history at 0.76, following the best single-season average during her senior season (0.40).
While she has never capped for the Senior National Team, Esson's national team resume is impressive. Esson played on both the U17 and U18 National Teams. She also played in the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand in 2008 and on the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Chile in 2008 before appearing in goal for the Junior Football Ferns during the OFC U20 Women's Championship in 2010.
The women's soccer portion of the 2016 Olympic Games are set to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 3, with the first set of group stage matches. Canada will begin its hunt for Olympic gold with a 1 p.m. group F matchup against Australia, while New Zealand will begin its quest for gold against the United Stats, the defending FIFA World Cup Champions, at 5 p.m. CT. A full schedule of first round games can be found here.
Beckie, a three-time All-American, completely rewrote the offensive record book during her four seasons in Lubbock. The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native ended her collegiate career as the all-time leader in goals (57), shot attempts (441), game-winning goals (22) and points (130).
Her contribution of 14 goals in the 2015 season earned her Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Honors for the second-consecutive season. Her game-winning goal against second-ranked West Virginia led to her earning the 2016 Big 12 Championship Offensive Most Outstanding Player.
Beckie capped her four-year career in historic fashion as the Red Raiders were able to secure their first-ever Big 12 Soccer Championship which sent Tech to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-consecutive season.
Beckie joined the Canadian National team following her junior season, spending the entire spring semester in residency with the team. She trained with the Senior National Team in preparation for the 2015 FIFA World Cup and earned her first career cap on Nov. 26, 2014, in a 1-1 draw against Sweden.
Beckie will look to add depth at the forward position for the Canadian Women's National Team that features world class-athletes like Christine Sinclair and Josée Bélanger.
Esson, a 2014 graduate of Texas Tech, was named to the New Zealand Olympic Squad for Rio 2016 on July 4. Esson, who completed her four year career as Texas Tech's all-time career shutouts leader with 29, is looking to make her first appearance with the Football Ferns in Rio.
Esson, a native of Christchurch, New Zealand, ended her Tech playing career with the best career goals against average in school history at 0.76, following the best single-season average during her senior season (0.40).
While she has never capped for the Senior National Team, Esson's national team resume is impressive. Esson played on both the U17 and U18 National Teams. She also played in the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand in 2008 and on the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Chile in 2008 before appearing in goal for the Junior Football Ferns during the OFC U20 Women's Championship in 2010.
The women's soccer portion of the 2016 Olympic Games are set to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 3, with the first set of group stage matches. Canada will begin its hunt for Olympic gold with a 1 p.m. group F matchup against Australia, while New Zealand will begin its quest for gold against the United Stats, the defending FIFA World Cup Champions, at 5 p.m. CT. A full schedule of first round games can be found here.
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