Texas Tech University Athletics
Stone Names Trio of Seniors Captains for 2019 Season
August 09, 2019 | Women's Soccer
Seniors Jayne Lydiatt, Gabbie Puente and Margaret Begley elected team captains for 2019 season.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Head coach Tom Stone announced the selection of seniors Jayne Lydiatt, Gabbie Puente and Margaret Begley as team captains for the Red Raiders this season.
"This is a group of great women that are going to lead this team," Stone said of his new captains. "The captain has to be a coach on the field and their attitude has to be contagious. You want the rest of the team to follow you anywhere, and that's the type of players and people these three are."
Each newly selected captain has taken very different paths to reach this point in their collegiate careers. For Puente, the title of captain comes in her fifth year with the program. The redshirt senior from Forth Worth will command the Tech back line with over 50 games worth of experience. Injury held her down when she first arrived on campus, but she has since bounced back to appear in at least 14 games in each of the last three seasons – including a career-high 19 in 2018.
"I think a lot of Gabbie's leadership comes from her story," Stone said. "She came here with her sister, redshirted due to injury and has been in and out of the lineup a million times. She's been in all of their shoes. She's been a starter, she's been a non-starter, she's been injured. She can relate to the whole team, and she can tell them to follow her and she'll show them how to get where they want to be.
"I think the team views her as a true Red Raider. Everyone adores her, but there is a respect because she has set such a high standard in the classroom as well as on and off the field."
Last season saw Puente log over 700 minutes on the back line. The defender made two starts, both coming late in Big 12 play. She picked up her first career assist against Oregon State when a cross was deposited into the net by Ally Griffin, who was at the receiving end.
Lydiatt, a transfer from Oregon who arrived in Lubbock last season, has become a leader in the locker room despite possessing three fewer years of experience than Puente. Her personality has allowed her to be the perfect candidate for a captain's spot.
"Jayne spent two years at another institution and came here and jumped right into the team," Stone said. "How many people are named captain when they're a junior transfer? That's impressive. She's got everyone's respect, and she's not afraid to wield that respect."
Last season, Lydiatt logged over 1,800 minutes on the field. She started in 21 of 22 games. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native scored her first goal in the Scarlet & Black against Iowa State, a game that counted as Tech's first Big 12 win of the season. She assisted teammates three times throughout the year – each of which was the game-winning goal.
Lydiatt's time in Eugene included 36 appearances, during which she scored five times and has two assists. She played her club ball for esteemed Real Colorado, the former program of many Red Raiders. When it came time to transfer, it was this connection that turned her attention to Tech, allowing her to reach out to several Red Raiders who were also alumnae of the club.
Begley will also don the title of captain for the 2019 campaign. The redshirt senior has sat out each of the last two seasons, having to deal with back-to-back ACL tears. Begley, who hails from Omaha, Neb., appeared in a combined 37 games in her first two seasons in Lubbock, including all 20 of her sophomore season in 2016. As she prepared for a strong junior year, she tore her ACL. After clawing her way back, she tore it again a year later.
Despite not seeing the pitch for two years, the decision to name his senior a captain was easy for Stone.
"She is a locker room leader," Stone said. "She is just a baller and one of the best players to ever come out of Nebraska."
Another reason for Begley's selection as a captain is her tenacity and refusal to give up. She is a competitor, whether she be competing against injuries or other players.
"When she tore that second ACL, we were heartbroken for her," Stone said. "We offered her a medical exemption so she could focus on school while still being on scholarship. She looked at me like I was crazy and said, 'I am coming back.' It's that type of attitude that makes her perfect for a captain role on this team."
Along that road to recovery, Begley never once played the victim card. Instead, she embraced her team even more. Last season, she traveled with the team and helped in any way she could – from setting up drills on the field to standing above the press box filming games. Her dedication was noticed by her teammates and coaches as the team made its sixth NCAA Tournament in seven years.
"To say that she was a part of us making the NCAA Tournament last year when she never played a minute is not an understatement," Stone said.
Begley's captain's band will not be worn above the press box this season, however. With one week before Tech's exhibition match at Denver, she is practicing full-go with the team and ready to return to game action as a critical member of Tech's strong defensive back line.
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 group of great women that are going to lead this team," Stone said of his new captains. "The captain has to be a coach on the field and their attitude has to be contagious. You want the rest of the team to follow you anywhere, and that's the type of players and people these three are."
Each newly selected captain has taken very different paths to reach this point in their collegiate careers. For Puente, the title of captain comes in her fifth year with the program. The redshirt senior from Forth Worth will command the Tech back line with over 50 games worth of experience. Injury held her down when she first arrived on campus, but she has since bounced back to appear in at least 14 games in each of the last three seasons – including a career-high 19 in 2018.
"I think a lot of Gabbie's leadership comes from her story," Stone said. "She came here with her sister, redshirted due to injury and has been in and out of the lineup a million times. She's been in all of their shoes. She's been a starter, she's been a non-starter, she's been injured. She can relate to the whole team, and she can tell them to follow her and she'll show them how to get where they want to be.
"I think the team views her as a true Red Raider. Everyone adores her, but there is a respect because she has set such a high standard in the classroom as well as on and off the field."
Last season saw Puente log over 700 minutes on the back line. The defender made two starts, both coming late in Big 12 play. She picked up her first career assist against Oregon State when a cross was deposited into the net by Ally Griffin, who was at the receiving end.
Lydiatt, a transfer from Oregon who arrived in Lubbock last season, has become a leader in the locker room despite possessing three fewer years of experience than Puente. Her personality has allowed her to be the perfect candidate for a captain's spot.
"Jayne spent two years at another institution and came here and jumped right into the team," Stone said. "How many people are named captain when they're a junior transfer? That's impressive. She's got everyone's respect, and she's not afraid to wield that respect."
Last season, Lydiatt logged over 1,800 minutes on the field. She started in 21 of 22 games. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native scored her first goal in the Scarlet & Black against Iowa State, a game that counted as Tech's first Big 12 win of the season. She assisted teammates three times throughout the year – each of which was the game-winning goal.
Lydiatt's time in Eugene included 36 appearances, during which she scored five times and has two assists. She played her club ball for esteemed Real Colorado, the former program of many Red Raiders. When it came time to transfer, it was this connection that turned her attention to Tech, allowing her to reach out to several Red Raiders who were also alumnae of the club.
Begley will also don the title of captain for the 2019 campaign. The redshirt senior has sat out each of the last two seasons, having to deal with back-to-back ACL tears. Begley, who hails from Omaha, Neb., appeared in a combined 37 games in her first two seasons in Lubbock, including all 20 of her sophomore season in 2016. As she prepared for a strong junior year, she tore her ACL. After clawing her way back, she tore it again a year later.
Despite not seeing the pitch for two years, the decision to name his senior a captain was easy for Stone.
"She is a locker room leader," Stone said. "She is just a baller and one of the best players to ever come out of Nebraska."
Another reason for Begley's selection as a captain is her tenacity and refusal to give up. She is a competitor, whether she be competing against injuries or other players.
"When she tore that second ACL, we were heartbroken for her," Stone said. "We offered her a medical exemption so she could focus on school while still being on scholarship. She looked at me like I was crazy and said, 'I am coming back.' It's that type of attitude that makes her perfect for a captain role on this team."
Along that road to recovery, Begley never once played the victim card. Instead, she embraced her team even more. Last season, she traveled with the team and helped in any way she could – from setting up drills on the field to standing above the press box filming games. Her dedication was noticed by her teammates and coaches as the team made its sixth NCAA Tournament in seven years.
"To say that she was a part of us making the NCAA Tournament last year when she never played a minute is not an understatement," Stone said.
Begley's captain's band will not be worn above the press box this season, however. With one week before Tech's exhibition match at Denver, she is practicing full-go with the team and ready to return to game action as a critical member of Tech's strong defensive back line.
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
Defender
/ Women's SoccerPost Game Presser: UNC
Sunday, November 23
Highlights: UNC (Round of 32)
Friday, November 21
Preview Presser: UNC (Round of 32)
Wednesday, November 19
Highlights: UTSA
Friday, November 14