Game Preview: Texas Tech Soccer Faces Baylor Thursday Night

LUBBOCK, Texas. – The Texas Tech soccer team starts its two-game road trip squaring off against Baylor Thursday night at Betty Lou Mays Field.

The Red Raiders (9-1-1, 2-0 Big 12) have opened conference play with an unblemished record with wins over Oklahoma and Kansas State last week. During that two-game stretch, senior forward Kirsten Davis tallied four goals (hat trick vs OU) and one assist. For her efforts, she was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week Tuesday, while earning the United Soccer Coaches' NCAA Player of the Week Wednesday. She leads TTU with 10 goals as the mark is tied for third in the nation – just two goals shy of the top spot.

Meanwhile, freshman Ashleigh Williams has slotted home eight goals which is second on the team while another freshman in Macy Blackburn leads the club with eight assists. In goal, junior Madison White has played each minute and boasts a 0.53 GAA which is first in the Big 12, paring that with seven clean sheets – a single-season career high.

Scouting Baylor
Baylor will enter Thursday night's clash with an overall 6-2-3 record, going 2-0 in conference play. Most recently, the Bears handed No. 10 TCU a 2-0 loss Sunday afternoon. Mackenzie Anthony spearheads the attack with six goals and two assists as nine Bears total have tallied a goal. Jennifer Wandt has started 11 games in net and holds a 0.83 GAA.

Team Captains
Davis and Cassie Hiatt are serving at team captains for the second straight season. A defender from Parker, Colorado, Hiatt has been a dominate player for the Red Raider defense for three seasons beginning with a Big 12 All-Freshman campaign to get started. Hiatt earned All-America honors as a sophomore along with All-Big 12 First Team. Davis, who was selected No. 13 in the NWSL College Draft, decided to return to school to play her fifth season at Texas Tech. She had 16 goals as a junior to earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and All-America honors. Davis is currently tied for second all-time at Tech with 41 career goals with Kristy Frantz (41) and behind Janine Beckie (57).

The Team
Texas Tech has 33 players on its roster with 20 returners and 13 newcomers. The Red Raiders have 11 freshmen on the roster along with adding transfers in Eva Hurm (Notre Dame) and Sierra Castles (Long Beach State).

Our Leader
Tom Stone picked up his 168th win with the victory over K-State. A Dallas native who won a national championship as a player at Duke, Stone is in his 15th season leading the program after roles at Denver, Duke and Clemson. He has led the Red Raiders to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including to the Sweet 16 in 2014. Tech won the 2015 Big 12 Tournament and has had eight double-digit win seasons under Stone's leadership.

Our Gold Medalist
Texas Tech welcomed Janine Beckie back to Lubbock on Saturday, August 14 after the former Red Raider helped lead Canada to the gold medal in Tokyo. Beckie, who is the all-time leading goal scorer in Tech history with 57, is currently playing professionally with Manchester City FC. Canada won the gold medal with a shootout win over Sweden in the championship game.

Up Next
Tech travels to Austin to face the Longhorns Sunday at 1 p.m.

Game Preview: Texas Tech Soccer Faces Baylor Thursday Night

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Players Mentioned

Macy Blackburn

Sierra Castles

Kirsten Davis

Cassie Hiatt

Eva Hurm

Madison White

Ashleigh Williams

Texas Tech University Athletics