Texas Tech University Athletics
Watson & Murphy Sign New International Pro Contracts
March 24, 2017 | Women's Soccer
Both Red Raiders will continue their soccer careers overseas
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech soccer standouts Lauren Watson and Alli Murphy have signed new professional contracts to continue playing soccer past the collegiate level.
For Watson, it is the first professional contract post-collegiate career, signing with Keflavik FC in the Football Association of Iceland. Murphy, who was drafted by the Washington Spirit with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft, signed with Gustafs GoIF in Gustafs, Sweden
Watson, a native of The Woodlands, Texas, is coming off a strong senior season donning the scarlet & black, who anchored the Red Raider defense in goal, helping Tech to its fifth-straight NCAA Championship berth. In 2016, Watson played in every minute of every match, recording 86 saves behind a goals against average mark of 1.06, which ranked seventh in a single-season at Texas Tech.
As her collegiate career came to a close, Watson found herself near the top of the all-time leaderboards at Tech. She finished fourth in career saves with 254 and second in total shutouts behind 25.5, after putting up six clean sheets in her final season in Lubbock. Watson leaves Texas Tech with 39 overall wins and the program's first-ever Big 12 Championship, while being the only Red Raider goalkeeper to play in four NCAA Tournament matches.
Watson's outstanding play on the field was recognized by the conference and by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) during her career at Tech. In 2015, she was named Big 12 Championship Defensive Most Outstanding Player and last year was named to the 2016 All-Big 12 First Team. Watson became the first Red Raider keeper to be named to the NSCAA All-Region team in 2014, also picking up the honor after the 2016 season.
Murphy completed her Texas Tech career in 2015 with 13 goals as a midfielder for the scarlet & black, including three in her senior season. Murphy was a prime distributor for a heralded Texas Tech offense, racking up 25 career assists, which sits at third all-time in the Red Raider record books. Her 12 assists during the 2014 season shattered the single-season mark at Texas Tech, helping set the Red Raiders up for 48 goals. That year, she also posted the individual record for assists in a game with four against Oral Roberts.
Both Red Raiders have made the trip across the pond and are set to begin their upcoming seasons within the next few weeks.
For Watson, it is the first professional contract post-collegiate career, signing with Keflavik FC in the Football Association of Iceland. Murphy, who was drafted by the Washington Spirit with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft, signed with Gustafs GoIF in Gustafs, Sweden
Watson, a native of The Woodlands, Texas, is coming off a strong senior season donning the scarlet & black, who anchored the Red Raider defense in goal, helping Tech to its fifth-straight NCAA Championship berth. In 2016, Watson played in every minute of every match, recording 86 saves behind a goals against average mark of 1.06, which ranked seventh in a single-season at Texas Tech.
As her collegiate career came to a close, Watson found herself near the top of the all-time leaderboards at Tech. She finished fourth in career saves with 254 and second in total shutouts behind 25.5, after putting up six clean sheets in her final season in Lubbock. Watson leaves Texas Tech with 39 overall wins and the program's first-ever Big 12 Championship, while being the only Red Raider goalkeeper to play in four NCAA Tournament matches.
Watson's outstanding play on the field was recognized by the conference and by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) during her career at Tech. In 2015, she was named Big 12 Championship Defensive Most Outstanding Player and last year was named to the 2016 All-Big 12 First Team. Watson became the first Red Raider keeper to be named to the NSCAA All-Region team in 2014, also picking up the honor after the 2016 season.
Murphy completed her Texas Tech career in 2015 with 13 goals as a midfielder for the scarlet & black, including three in her senior season. Murphy was a prime distributor for a heralded Texas Tech offense, racking up 25 career assists, which sits at third all-time in the Red Raider record books. Her 12 assists during the 2014 season shattered the single-season mark at Texas Tech, helping set the Red Raiders up for 48 goals. That year, she also posted the individual record for assists in a game with four against Oral Roberts.
Both Red Raiders have made the trip across the pond and are set to begin their upcoming seasons within the next few weeks.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
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