Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders to Open Spring with Doubleheader
February 28, 2019 | Women's Soccer
Tech welcomes West Texas A&M and Abilene Christian for first exhibitions of spring.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech is set to begin the 2019 spring season with a pair of home matches at the John Walker Soccer Complex Saturday. The spring opener will come just three months after Tech piled up 14 wins and appeared in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last seven years.
The Tech coaching staff will use the doubleheader as a chance to see where the squad is at after winter conditioning and training.
"This opening spring weekend begins the match evaluation process of our spring training program," said head coach Tom Stone. "I am sure the players are ready to get some game time versus an outside opponent and we are eager to see what they've got at this point."
Stone plans on allowing the entirety of his roster playing time to ensure everyone has the ability to showcase their growth.
"Every player will be given plenty of opportunity to show what they can do and that they have improved in certain targeted areas," Stone said. "Playing time towards the end of the spring will be won and lost by performances in these early pre-spring break games."
The Lady Buffs recorded a 15-4-3 record in 2018 and dominated the Lone Star Conference, going 10-1-1. They were eliminated in the semi-finals of the LSC Championship, but went on to win the NCAA South Central Regional in penalties against conference foe Dallas Baptist.
The Red Raiders hosted ACU in the regular season in 2018, downing them by a score of 1-0. The Red Raiders outshot the Wildcats, 19-1. The dominant win propelled Tech into the top-25 for the first time of the season as they entered at 21st.
The Wildcats bounced back well after the loss to Tech, putting together a 10-3-1 record to round out the regular season. They went on to win the Southland Conference Championship, claiming an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and becoming the first athletics program at ACU to do so at the Division I level.
"There is no better way to kick off our spring season than against two programs that are coming off historic fall campaigns," said assistant coach Gibbs Keeton. "Both clubs are well-coached and each game will provide its own set of unique challenges. Two games in one day should make for a great day of soccer."
First touch for Tech's match with WTAMU is scheduled for 11 a.m., while the finale against ACU will begin at 4 p.m.
The Tech coaching staff will use the doubleheader as a chance to see where the squad is at after winter conditioning and training.
"This opening spring weekend begins the match evaluation process of our spring training program," said head coach Tom Stone. "I am sure the players are ready to get some game time versus an outside opponent and we are eager to see what they've got at this point."
Stone plans on allowing the entirety of his roster playing time to ensure everyone has the ability to showcase their growth.
"Every player will be given plenty of opportunity to show what they can do and that they have improved in certain targeted areas," Stone said. "Playing time towards the end of the spring will be won and lost by performances in these early pre-spring break games."
The Lady Buffs recorded a 15-4-3 record in 2018 and dominated the Lone Star Conference, going 10-1-1. They were eliminated in the semi-finals of the LSC Championship, but went on to win the NCAA South Central Regional in penalties against conference foe Dallas Baptist.
The Red Raiders hosted ACU in the regular season in 2018, downing them by a score of 1-0. The Red Raiders outshot the Wildcats, 19-1. The dominant win propelled Tech into the top-25 for the first time of the season as they entered at 21st.
The Wildcats bounced back well after the loss to Tech, putting together a 10-3-1 record to round out the regular season. They went on to win the Southland Conference Championship, claiming an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and becoming the first athletics program at ACU to do so at the Division I level.
"There is no better way to kick off our spring season than against two programs that are coming off historic fall campaigns," said assistant coach Gibbs Keeton. "Both clubs are well-coached and each game will provide its own set of unique challenges. Two games in one day should make for a great day of soccer."
First touch for Tech's match with WTAMU is scheduled for 11 a.m., while the finale against ACU will begin at 4 p.m.
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