Tech heads to Denver for exhibition Friday

Friday, August 11

Denver, CO

3 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

Denver (Exhibition)

Tech heads to Denver for exhibition Friday

August 09, 2023 | Women's Soccer

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The Red Raiders and Pioneers will clash at 3 p.m. (CT)

By: Andrew Stern

LUBBOCK, Texas – With the opening match of the regular season just eight days away, head coach Tom Stone and Texas Tech women's soccer program will take a trip to the Rockies this weekend, when they head to Denver for an exhibition match Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. (CT).

No stream or live stats will be available for the friendly at DU, but live updates will be made available via Texas Tech's various soccer platforms. Fans can follow the Red Raider soccer program on Twitter (@TexasTechSoccer), Facebook (@TTUSoccer) and Instagram (@TexasTechSoccer).

The exhibition up at DU is also important for the Tech soccer program as it serves as a "homecoming" match for the four Denver area natives: Kylie Bahr, Skylar Haase, Peyton Parsons and Molly Skurcenski.

SEASON PROSPECTUS:
Tech returns key pieces like Hannah Anderson, Bahr, Ashleigh Williams and Madison White in 2023. Combined with the addition of two-time Southland Conference Forward of the Year Olivia Draguicevich and Vanderbilt transfer Alex Kerr, Stone and the Red Raiders boast one of the strongest and deepest rosters in recent memory.

A First Team All-Big 12 selection a year ago, Anderson was tabbed to the Big 12 Preseason All-Conference team on Wednesday, and was also selected to the United Soccer Coaches Association Defenders to Watch List.

After a strong freshman campaign that earned her both Big 12 Freshman honors as well as an invite to the USWNT U-19 camp, Bahr returns for her second season in 2023. A Third Team All-Big 12 selection, Bahr was one of eight Red Raiders to appear in all 19 matches a season ago. The Colorado native played all 90 minutes in 10 matches after logging an impressive 1,557 minutes on the season.

Tech's third key returner, Williams, returns for her third season with the Scarlett and Black. Williams recorded a strong 2022 campaign that saw the Texan score a team-best nine goals, six of which came against Big 12 foes. Williams' six Big 12 goals were the most by a player in conference play and earned the Allen native Second Team All-Big 12 honors. After a strong eight goal season in 2021, Williams has now found the back of the net 17 times in her 39 matches as a Red Raider.

A key component to Tech's defense, White returns for her fifth and final season at Tech already with her name etched all over the record books. The Texan has already recorded two of the 10 lowest single-season goals-against averages in program history and has the fourth and sixth-most shutouts in a single-season in program history.

White enters her final campaign fourth all-time in goals-against average (0.87), second in all-time clean sheets (26) and sixth in saves (193).

Through the additions of both Kerr (12 career goals) and Draguicevich (37 career goals), Tech also improved its depth at the top.

A transfer from Vanderbilt, Kerr arrives in Lubbock playing some of the best soccer of her career. During the 2022 season, Kerr set new career-highs in: games played (21), starts (20), goals (6), shots (26) and minutes played (925). She helped lead the Commodores to an impressive 12-5-4 record and the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Tech's second key addition to attack, Draguicevich, also arrives in Lubbock playing the best soccer of her career. The Pflugerville native won back-to-back Southland Conference Forward of the Year Awards and was named the 2021 Southland Conference Player of the Year, after scoring a combined 26 goals the last two seasons. Draguicevich left NSU as the all-time leading scorer in Lady Demons history.

SCOUTING DU:
Denver enters Friday's exhibition contest with one friendly under its belt. The Pioneers hosted SEC foe LSU on Tuesday night and came out with a 1-0 victory over the Tigers. Entering the season under the direction of first-year head coach Julianne Sitch, DU enters the 2023 campaign having won five-straight Summit League regular-season titles and four-straight Summit League Postseason Tournament crowns.

The Pioneers, led by sixth year senior Camryn MacMillian, return 24 players from 2022. A First Team Summit League selection, MacMillian has scored 21 career goals in 65 career matches. Other key returners for DU include Kaitlyn Glover and Sydney Sharp. Glover led DU in points in 2022 after scoring six goals and tallying six assists, while Sharp returns after missing the 2022 season due to injury. Sharp tallied a team-best 16 goals in 2021.

UP NEXT:
Following the exhibition contest at Denver, Stone and the Red Raiders will open the regular season on Aug. 17 at the University of New Mexico. The match is set for an 8:30 (CT) p.m. kick.