Tech continues homestand Sunday vs. Utah State

Sunday, August 27

Lubbock, TX

2 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

Utah State

Tickets

Tech continues homestand Sunday vs. Utah State

August 25, 2023 | Women's Soccer

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The Red Raiders will look to remain unbeaten when they play host to USU

By: Andrew Stern

LUBBOCK, Texas – Fresh off a strong 4-1 victory Thursday over Ball State, the Texas Tech soccer program continues a five-match home stand on Sunday night when the Aggies of Utah State visit the John Walker Soccer Complex.

The 7 p.m. contest will feature a strong giveaway, as the first 250 Tech fans will receive a "Wreck 'EM" head band.

Tech enters the match riding a pair of unbeaten streaks, as the Red Raiders are now unbeaten in their last seven regular season matches and the last three matches at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (2-0-1) vs. Utah State (1-2)
LOCATION: Lubbock, Texas (John Walker Soccer Complex)
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 2023
TIME: 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:
Powered by a second-career hat trick from junior Ashleigh Williams and a career-best three assists from sophomore Macy Blackburn, the Texas Tech women soccer program raced by Ball State, 4-1 Thursday night at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

After conceding a tough equalizer just five minutes before the break, Texas Tech (2-0-1) immediately answered in the second half, scoring three times in a matter of 15 minutes.

The first two goals of the three-goal sequence came from Williams, who has now scored five goals in her last two matches.

With her hat trick, Williams became just the fifth different Red Raider to record three goals in match.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Tech got off to a strong start on Thursday night using a strong run from Kylie Bahr to open the scoring. Racing down the left-hand side of the pitch, Bahr made a Ball State (1-2) defender fall to the ground with a beautiful stutter-step move.

The run and subsequent move opened up a cross opportunity, where the outside back found a wide-open Williams, who took a touch and deposited the ball into the back of the net.

Just five minutes later, Ball State had a great chance to equalize, when Lexi Fraley intercepted a pass and found herself with a late run in the box. Fraley ripped a shot that keeper Madison White was able to kick wide. The save was one of a season-high three that White would accumulate on the night.

White has now recorded 195 saves, and needs just five more saves to become the sixth goalie in Tech history to record 200 saves. She trails former Red Raider Victoria Esson by just 18 saves for fifth-place on the all-time saves mark.

Tech continued to dominate possession and most of the chances, until midway through the 35th minute when Ball State forward Delaney Caldwell intercepted a pass and was able to slot a ball past White.

As a result of the BSU goal, the match headed to the break tied at one.

Much like Sunday's match against New Mexico State, Tech scored quickly out the break on a yet another beautiful goal.

Giselle Kozarski ended a strong run with a perfect flick to a streaking Blackburn. Deep in the Cardinals end, Blackburn slotted a perfect ball to Williams, who with a perfect spin eluded the final Cardinal defender before ripping a shot past BSU keeper Bethany Moser.

Armed with the lead once again, Tech continued to buzz, as the Red Raiders searched for a commanding two-goal lead.

The third goal came a matter of moments later, when freshman Sam Courtwright threaded a beautiful ball into the BSU box that found the trusty right-foot of a streaking Blackburn. The defender calmly and swiftly re-directed a pass that found a cutting Williams, who directed the ball over the goal-line for her third and final goal of the evening.

The fourth and final goal of the night also emanated from a strong run by Blackburn, who after taking a beautiful feed from Molly Skurenski redirected a pass across the BSU goal.

The ball skipped perfectly off the new natural grass surface, rolling past Williams and onto the left foot of Alex Kerr.

Nearing the back post, Kerr showed her poise, chipping the ball into lower right-hand side of the net for her third goal of the season.

Armed with a 4-1 lead, Tech was able to dig deep into its bench, as 13 different reserves saw action.

As a result, of the 11 Tech starters, only two played more than 70 minutes; White and captain Hannah Anderson.

In fact, only four Tech starters played more than 60 minutes: White, Anderson, Blackburn and Jillian Martinez.

The 4-1 victory was Tech's second straight lopsided win to open a five-match homestand and came off the heels of a dominate 5-0 victory over 2022 NCAA Tournament participant New Mexico State.

After recording just 14 assists on 23 goals last season, the Red Raiders already have 15 assists on 10 goals. For the season, Tech is now outshooting its opponents 57-16 after outshooting BSU 25-7.

QUICK KICKS:
• Tom Stone and the Texas Tech Red Raiders continue a five-match homestand on Sunday when they welcome the Utah State Aggies to the John Walker Soccer Complex. Riding the momentum of a strong 4-1 victory on Thursday and a 5-0 win last Sunday, the Red Raiders have now outscored their opponents 10-2 over the seasons first three matches.
• In the shot column Tech has been equally as dominant, as the Red Raiders have outshot opponents 57-16 overall and 29-6 in shots-on-goal.
• On Thursday night in the win over Ball State, the Red Raiders outshot the Cardinals 25-7, with six of those shots coming from striker Ashleigh Williams.
• Williams' hat trick on Thursday was the eighth career hat trick in program history and the first since Kiersten Davis' hat trick back on Sept. 23 of 2021.
• The match against Ball State also included a program record, as Tech recorded six assists in the second half on three goals.
• As a team, the Red Raiders ranke third in the country those far in total assists (15) and third in the country in assists per game (5.0).
• The Red Raiders 10 total goals are also top-20 in the country and tied for third in the Big 12.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES:
• Utah State enters Sunday's contest with a record of 1-2 overall after falling on Thursday night 1-0 to Utah. The Aggies other setback came last Sunday afternoon when they fell at home to then ranked No. 21 St. Louis. USU opened its 2023 camapign with a strong performance downing in-state rival Weber State, 5-1.
• Sunday's match against Tech will be the first road contest of the season for Utah State, who opened the season with three straight home matches.
• Freshman Summer Diamond has led the way thus far for the Aggies, as she has scored two of USUs five goals. Diamond became the first true freshman in Aggie history to record a brace in her collegiate debut. Diamond is the only other Aggie with multiple goals this season
• Utah State enters Sunday's contest with a record of 1-2 overall after falling on Thursday night 1-0 to Utah. The Aggies other setback came last Sunday afternoon when they fell at home to then ranked No. 21 St. Louis.
• Returning 15 letterwinners and seven starters, the Aggies were picked fifth in the Preseason Mountain West poll as they enter year three under head coach Manny Martins. Martins has a connection with Tech HC Tom Stone, as the two served as scouts for the 2019 USWNT during the FIFA World Cup.

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders continue their longest homestand of the season on Thursday night when UNT visits Lubbock. The match is set for a 7 p.m. first kick and will be the "Code Red" match.