Tech Blanks SDSU, 1-0, For Fifth Clean Sheet In 2017

Friday, September 15

Lubbock, Texas

7:00 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

6-2-0

San Diego State

3-5-0

San Diego State

Texas Tech

Tech Blanks SDSU, 1-0, For Fifth Clean Sheet In 2017

September 15, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

Freshman forward Kirsten Davis scores early in the second half to push past the Aztecs

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech soccer team recorded its fifth shutout of the season after picking up a 1-0 victory over San Diego State on Friday night at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

The Red Raiders (6-2-0) treated the Lubbock faithful of 1,271 to their second-straight home victory with the win over the Aztecs (3-5-0). Two weeks ago, Tech defeated Appalachian State in its home opener, 4-0. It was the second-straight year the Red Raiders had used a 1-0 score to roll past San Diego State, doing so on the road in 2016.

"It's just great to be home," head coach Tom Stone said. "This crowd is just so energizing. They were rowdy, they were into and were so loud, especially the first 20 minutes when we were really putting the heat on the Aztecs. It was a night that they pushed us a little bit to dig deeper and we responded with a great goal to win the game."

Tech's lone goal of the night came four minutes after halftime, as sophomore midfielder Jordie Harr served up a beautiful pass from the left wing across the six-yard box and past the keeper to freshman forward Kirsten Davis, who finished the layup for the score. It was her third goal of the season, matching fellow freshman Ally Griffin for the team lead.

It was part of a six shot night for Davis, the St. Louis, Missouri, native, including two on goal and one that dinged off the right corner of the post in the second half. Griffin and junior midfielder Carly Wickenheiser each tallied four shots, including three and two on net, respectively.

"When Jordie jumped on that counter-attack ball and I saw Kirsten sprinting for the back post, I said 'Just please play KD.' And on Jordie's left foot, she's about as good as it gets in the country in that kind of a service. So, it was an easy tap in for KD, but it was a long, hard run to get there."

Harr's dish was her third assist of the year and first connecting with Davis. Harr has also marked junior midfielder Gwennie Puente against Appalachian State (Sept. 3) and Griffin vs. Arizona State (Sept. 8) for scores.

The Red Raiders outshot the Aztecs 19-6 in Friday's contest, as Tech put up 11 in the first frame, followed by eight in the second half. Ten of Tech's 19 were on goal, while SDSU were held to just three throughout the duration of the night, all in the first 29 minutes of play.

"That's really impressive because we were against the wind and it got stout," Stone said on not allowing a shot on goal in the second half. "The report was it was going to die in the second half, so we took the wind in the first and it was blowing hard in the second. Given that, that's an impressive stat. Shot blocking, blocking crosses, getting in the way of stuff; I think our girls were definitely committed. We were playing five across the back at the end to make sure we closed the game out and that's a pretty tough wall to break down."

After being held to just three corner kicks at Arizona last Sunday, the Red Raiders flipped the script and held SDSU to just two during the night, while earning 13 of their own, with a whopping 10 in the first half. Junior Carissa Christensen and freshman Marissa Zucchetto split time in net again on Friday, as Christensen posted the only three saves of the night for the Red Raiders, increasing her season total to 12.

"They were awesome," Stone said about the home crowd. "We didn't mean to keep them at bay for six of the first seven matches, but our appreciation for them sure has grown because we've been on the road for so long and they seem to be responding to how young, feisty and exciting this team is to watch."

The Red Raiders continue their four-match home stand and wrap up non-conference play on Sunday, Sept. 17, against Cal State-Northridge at 7 p.m. in Lubbock.

???? - Perfect pass from Harr, great finish from Davis for her third goal of the year! #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/qQy8nAw2Ca
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) September 16, 2017