Texas Tech University Athletics
New Red Raider Soccer Class Hits Campus
July 06, 2019 | Women's Soccer
Tech welcomes 10 new student-athletes to campus with banquet at The Rawls Course.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Head coach Tom Stone hosted a dinner for Texas Tech soccer's 10 incoming student-athletes and their families Saturday. Taking place annually at The Rawls, Stone uses the banquet as an opportunity to officially welcome his new Red Raiders to campus ahead of the fall season.
"This is a big day for them," Stone said. "Many of them have been committed here for a while and have looked forward to this day and prepared themselves for this opportunity. This is really our way of kicking off day one of that transition to college life and learning to balance that commitment to soccer and academics and life.
"Some of these ladies have been committed since they were 14 or 15; others, since just a few months ago. To see them all here together and excited about what lies ahead is awesome."
Tech fans are set to see a large batch of new Red Raiders on the field this fall. It is a diverse group, too, consisting of six American high school signees – two of whom enrolled in January and played in the spring – in addition to two youth internationals and two transfers.
"We filled a lot of needs with this class," said Stone. "We've got high hopes for this class, and I think some of these young ladies will help us right away."
"The numbers give us diversity in what the class can bring to the roster," said assistant coach Nick Hallam. "I think there is more opportunity for them to get on the field in different spots. This class includes forwards, defenders, midfielders and a new goalkeeper. They're going to challenge for spots all over the field immediately."
Hannah Anderson (Frisco, Texas) and Macy Schultz (Timnath, Colo.) were Tech's early enrollees, arriving on campus in January in order to get a spring season under their belts before the fall. They are joined in their high school signing class by: Taya Lopez (Las Cruces, N.M.), Haley Smith (Flower Mound, Texas), Marisa Weichel (Papillion, Neb.) and Madison White (Rockwell, Texas). Two youth internationals will grab their passports and come to the States: Nicole Mettam (New Zealand) and Penelope Mulenga (Canada). The collegiate experience comes from Luana Munoz (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Amanda Porter (Littleton, Colo.), who have transferred in from Tyler JC and Arizona, respectively.
For those Red Raiders new to the college level, the next month will be critical in determining their readiness for collegiate soccer. It is that transition, Stone believes, that is most rewarding – both for coaches and the players themselves.
"For any coach, the excitement lies in seeing a player that you know what they can do at the youth level or international level, and see them do that here," he said. "Once the things that are so great about their game show up at the college level, especially under pressure, it's really exciting. I recruited them for those aspects to show up in college, and now it's time for them to get faster and stronger so they can."
Tech's 2019 campaign will begin as usual with an exhibition trip to Denver, which is set for Aug. 17. The Red Raiders will turn around and hit the road the following week for a two-game trip to San Diego State (Aug. 22) and New Mexico (Aug. 25). Tech fans' first chance to see the squad in action at home will be Aug. 30 when the Red Raiders return for a Friday night showdown with Oral Roberts.
"This is a big day for them," Stone said. "Many of them have been committed here for a while and have looked forward to this day and prepared themselves for this opportunity. This is really our way of kicking off day one of that transition to college life and learning to balance that commitment to soccer and academics and life.
"Some of these ladies have been committed since they were 14 or 15; others, since just a few months ago. To see them all here together and excited about what lies ahead is awesome."
Our family just got bigger.
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) July 7, 2019
As in, ?? new Red Raiders bigger??
??#WreckEm?? pic.twitter.com/VbJlmLpMF2
Tech fans are set to see a large batch of new Red Raiders on the field this fall. It is a diverse group, too, consisting of six American high school signees – two of whom enrolled in January and played in the spring – in addition to two youth internationals and two transfers.
"We filled a lot of needs with this class," said Stone. "We've got high hopes for this class, and I think some of these young ladies will help us right away."
"The numbers give us diversity in what the class can bring to the roster," said assistant coach Nick Hallam. "I think there is more opportunity for them to get on the field in different spots. This class includes forwards, defenders, midfielders and a new goalkeeper. They're going to challenge for spots all over the field immediately."
Hannah Anderson (Frisco, Texas) and Macy Schultz (Timnath, Colo.) were Tech's early enrollees, arriving on campus in January in order to get a spring season under their belts before the fall. They are joined in their high school signing class by: Taya Lopez (Las Cruces, N.M.), Haley Smith (Flower Mound, Texas), Marisa Weichel (Papillion, Neb.) and Madison White (Rockwell, Texas). Two youth internationals will grab their passports and come to the States: Nicole Mettam (New Zealand) and Penelope Mulenga (Canada). The collegiate experience comes from Luana Munoz (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Amanda Porter (Littleton, Colo.), who have transferred in from Tyler JC and Arizona, respectively.
For those Red Raiders new to the college level, the next month will be critical in determining their readiness for collegiate soccer. It is that transition, Stone believes, that is most rewarding – both for coaches and the players themselves.
"For any coach, the excitement lies in seeing a player that you know what they can do at the youth level or international level, and see them do that here," he said. "Once the things that are so great about their game show up at the college level, especially under pressure, it's really exciting. I recruited them for those aspects to show up in college, and now it's time for them to get faster and stronger so they can."
Tech's 2019 campaign will begin as usual with an exhibition trip to Denver, which is set for Aug. 17. The Red Raiders will turn around and hit the road the following week for a two-game trip to San Diego State (Aug. 22) and New Mexico (Aug. 25). Tech fans' first chance to see the squad in action at home will be Aug. 30 when the Red Raiders return for a Friday night showdown with Oral Roberts.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
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