No. 22 Red Raiders Blowout Aztecs in Opener

Thursday, August 22

San Diego, Calif.

9:00 P.M.

Texas Tech Athletics

1-0-0

San Diego State

0-1-0

Texas Tech

San Diego State

No. 22 Red Raiders Blowout Aztecs in Opener

August 23, 2019 | Women's Soccer

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Tech tallies six on opening night in San Diego.

By: Jeremy O'Brien

SAN DIEGO – No. 22 Texas Tech rang in the new season with a 6-1 blowout win at San Diego State Thursday evening. The Red Raiders put it out of reach from the start, knocking in five in the first half – including the first score just three minutes after the opening whistle.

"Everything just went our way," said head coach Tom Stone. "We know it's not always going to be like that – we certainly wish it was – but we had it tonight. San Diego State is a lot better than the scoreboard shows, but once we had a rhythm and our offense got cranked up, we looked great."

Q: What is the perfect way to start a season?

A: What we did tonight. ??

??#WreckEm?? pic.twitter.com/LkexivaRbj
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) August 23, 2019

Captain Jayne Lydiatt was behind the opener, knocking in a short cross from Kirsten Davis in the third minute. Hardly 15 minutes later, she picked up another after heading in a perfect cross from Gabbie Puente to quickly make it 2-0.

For the captain Lydiatt, two quick scores rids the team of any early season jitters and returns them right back to basics.

"An early lead gets us in such a rhythm," Lydiatt said. "It's almost like, 'Ok, we're just playing soccer again.' They were goals that we practice, and that reminds us to trust in the process and training that we work on every day."

Not to be left out, Davis took her turn netting two more scores in the 37^thminute – 20 seconds apart – to make it 4-0.

The game nearly in blowout status with the first 45 winding down, Margaret Begley initiated Tech's first set-piece goal of the season when she launched a beauty of a corner into the box. At the end of the serve was Demi Koulizakis, who rose above the Aztec keeper to head in her first of the season.

Begley's assist came less than two minutes after checking in for the first time in two years. The senior captain's appearance on the field was one that excited the entire Red Raider sideline after battling back from two consecutive ACL tears.

40' | HERE COMES MARGO! ??

The sideline erupts as captain @margaret_begley checks in for her first regular season game action in two years!

??#WreckEm?? pic.twitter.com/QvImSCCwU4
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) August 23, 2019

"This feeling is so rewarding," Begley said. "After my first one, I thought I was going to get back there and it didn't happen. I've waited a long time to get back, and it couldn't be more rewarding."

"Margaret has been the best teammate," Lydiatt said of her fellow captain. "She's been so patient. With two ACL tears, there is plenty of potential to be down on yourself. But Margaret has never once brought that with her to the field or locker room. For her to not only play but play so well, it's amazing for every single one of us to witness."

A monster first half in the books, Tech emptied its bench in the second 45, wherein every player except the backup keepers saw the pitch. Seven of the eight freshmen checked in, and one got on the board right away. After subbing in for her collegiate debut, forward Marisa Weichel found a loose ball in the box and slotted it home on her first touch in a college game.

71' | A DEBUT GOAL!

TTU 6??
SDSU 1??

??#WreckEm?? pic.twitter.com/iov8EhdIIx
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) August 23, 2019

"I am so happy that everyone got to see the field tonight," Lydiatt said of the newcomers she helps lead everyday. "They've been taking everything in since they've gotten here. Nobody believes they are entitled to playing time. They deserve it."

Game two for the Red Raiders comes Sunday evening in Albuquerque, where Tech will take on New Mexico at 8 p.m. CT (7 p.m. MT). A stream will be available here, with live stats available here.