Tech Blanks Denver, 2-0, In Preseason Tune-up

Saturday, August 12

Denver, Colo.

7:00 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

Denver (Exh.)

Tech Blanks Denver, 2-0, In Preseason Tune-up

August 12, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score (PDF)

The Red Raiders pick up goals from freshman Kirsten Davis and senior Cassie Conarty on Saturday.

DENVER – The Texas Tech soccer team rattled off two goals early in the first half to shutout Denver, 2-0, in Saturday's exhibition match at Pioneer Field.

In their only preseason bout before the regular season begins on Aug. 18, Tech secured tallies from freshman forward Kirsten Davis (11') and senior defender Cassie Conarty (16') to blank the Pioneers.

"It was a really good start to the 2017 season," head coach Tom Stone said. "Denver is much improved over last season and they are well organized and very well coached. We jumped on them early and scored two quick goals while establishing a good early passing rhythm."

Tech totaled 16 shots in Saturday's match, compared to Denver's seven. Over the course of the night, seven different Red Raiders rattled off a shot, including six with at least one on net.

The Red Raiders recorded 10 total shots in the opening half, while limiting the Pioneer offense to just five shots. Junior goalkeeper Carissa Christensen corralled two saves, before giving way to freshman GK Marissa Zucchetto to start the second frame. Zucchetto would pick up one save after facing just two shots from the Denver attack in the second half.

"The first half was mostly ours, but in the second half, DU played well and got on the ball a lot, which gave us a chance to work on defending and protecting our box," Stone said. "The stat that stands out to me in the second half is that despite chasing them a bit, we only surrendered two shots over 45 minutes and of course it's always nice to keep a clean sheet."

Tech drew first blood during the 11' mark thanks to the St. Louis Connection. Junior midfielder Carly Wickenheiser sent a pass down the left side to freshman forward Kirsten Davis, who rifled her first collegiate shot into the right corner of the net for the score.

Davis' goal marked back-to-back years a Tech freshman tallied the opening goal in the exhibition against Denver, as forward Jade King scored in the 9' in the 2016 contest. Davis would finish the night with five shots, three on goal, to lead the Red Raiders. Sophomore midfielder Jordie Harr and freshman forward Ally Griffin each put up three shots, both with a shot on goal.

Five minutes later, the Red Raiders struck again, this time an unassisted goal from senior defender Cassie Conarty. The Allen native chipped the second goal of the night over the goalkeeper's head from about 25 yards out to push the Red Raider lead to 2-0. Last season, Conarty recorded a goal in Tech's first conference match of the year at Kansas on Sept. 23.

"We call this game our early season x-ray to see where we are," Stone said. "We know Denver is going to throw some things at us and we are playing at altitude so it's a great test of our early possession abilities and our fitness, so we get something out of it regardless of the result. We're happy to learn what we need to spend time on going forward."

Tech opens the regular season on Friday, Aug. 18, at 5 p.m., against Grand Canyon at the Lobo Invitational in Albuquerque. The Red Raiders conclude the weekend on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m., against San Francisco.

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11' - The St. Louis Connection (nickname pending)
16' - Big Cass#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/rYCP6uCGuw
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) August 13, 2017