Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Arizona State
Tech Closes non-con Sunday vs. ASU
September 09, 2023 | Women's Soccer
The Sun Devils and Red Raiders will kick at 11 a.m. (CT) in a battle of unbeatens
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Texas Tech Red Raiders close out the non-conference portion of the 2023 season on Sunday morning when they clash with Arizona State at 11 a.m. (CT) from Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium on the campus of the University of Arizona.
Riding a 12-match unbeaten streak that dates back to the 2022 season, Tech will face a fourth unbeaten team (New Mexico State, North Texas and Abilene Christian) on Sunday. This season the Red Raiders are 3-0 against those teams, outscoring them by a combined 14-1 mark.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (5-0-2) vs. Arizona State (4-0-3)
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 2023
TIME: 11 a.m. (CT)
LOCATION: Tucson, Ariz. (Murphy Field at Mulchay Stadium)
LAST TIME OUT:
Powered by a strong start that included a goal from freshman Sam Courtwright, the Texas Tech Soccer program played the University of Arizona to a 1-1 draw Thursday night in the second match of the Arizona Classic hosted by UofA at Murphy Field at Mulchay Stadium.
With the draw, Texas Tech (5-0-2) remains unbeaten on the season and will now take a 12-match unbeaten streak in Sunday's contest with Arizona State. The Sun Devils opened the Arizona Classic with a 1-0 victory over Utah State earlier on Thursday.
The match got off to a strong start for Tech, who used a pair of quick shots from Ashleigh Williams and Alex Kerr to put pressure on Arizona (2-1-3) early.
In the eighth minute, the Red Raiders made a strong run deep into Arizona territory. A cross from Williams was blocked away by a Wildcat defender, but the rebound fell right to Kylie Bahr who raced past the backline and ripped a ball that was blocked by a hand in the box.
The handball awarded a PK to the Red Raiders at the 7:32 mark. Coach Tom Stone turned to Kerr who ripped one to the lower-left corner that Arizona keeper Hope Hisey was able to punch out.
Much like Williams' attempted cross, the rebound found a Red Raider, as Jillian Martinez ripped a shot near post that Hisey was able to kick save away from danger.
At the tail end of the 14th minute, Tech earned a corner kick on the right-hand side of the pitch. Rather than playing the ball into the box, the Red Raiders played it short to Courtwright who made a move before being tripped up at the edge of the 18 yard box.
The infraction was whistled as Tech earned a free kick.
On the ensuing free kick, defender Macy Blackburn again played a short ball in the direction of Courtwright who ripped a right-footed ball past Hisey for her second goal of the season.
The strike gave Tech a 1-0 lead.
Just 10 seconds into the 24th minute, Arizona nearly tied it when Savannah Holley ripped a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar, bounced and hit the crossbar a second time before being cleared away.
Arizona continued to buzz following the sequence, but couldn't find the equalizer before the break, as the match went to the half with the Red Raiders leading 1-0.
Just under 10 minutes into the second half, Arizona found the equalizer when a corner kick attempt bounced to Aranda Hurge who found Sam Baytosh just outside the Red Raider six-yard box.
Baytosh ripped a shot to that White may have gotten a piece of before the ball bounded into the night.
The strike tied the match at one-all.
Tech and UofA continued to battle down the stretch with neither side finding much in the way of a scoring chance until a Red Raider corner kick in 78th minute bounced to reserve Elise Anderson.
Anderson took a go from about 25-yards out, but her on target shot was smothered by Hisey.
Just a matter of moments later, the Red Raiders had another strong offensive sequence when a pair of shots by Kerr were blocked away.
The attempts from Kerr were the last strong chance as the Red Raiders and Wildcats settled for a tie.
For the first time this season, the Red Raiders were outshot in a match, as Arizona recorded 15 shots to Tech's 12.
The Red Raiders did however win the shot-on-goal battle 6-5 and had six corners as opposed to Arizona's three.
With her first half goal, Courtwright has now recorded a point in five straight matches, while Blackburn added her sixth assist of the season.
Courtwright's goal was also Tech's 23rd of the season in just the season's seventh match. For context, the Red Raiders scored just 23 times all season in 2022.
QUICK KICKS:
Tom Stone and the Texas Tech Red Raiders will face the Arizona State Sun Devils on Sunday morning in Tucson. The Red Raiders and Sun Devils are meeting for the sixth time all-time with all six occurring at a neutral site.
Freshman Sam Courtwright will take a five match point streak into Sunday's contest after scoring her second career goal. The Dallas native has now scored twice and has
a five assists.
In goal, senior Maddie White needs just one more shutout to break the all-time shutout mark. The Rockwall native is currently tied with Red Raider great Victoria
Esson in clean sheets.
So far this season, the Red Raiders are outscoring opponents 23-4 overall and 14-1 in the first half. Tech still has not trailed through the seasons first seven matches.
For the first time all season, Tech was outshot in a match, as Arizona outshot the Red Raiders 15-12.
SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS:
• The Arizona State Sun Devils enter Sunday's match with a record of 4-0-3, after a 1-0 win in their Arizona Classic Opener against Utah State. Tech and ASU have played a pair of common opponents in Utah State and New Mexico State. The Sun Devils dropped the Aggies 4-1 in Las Cruces. Down 1-0 in that match, ASU scored four unanswered after a key red card was issued to the Aggies.
• In addition to facing another unbeaten squad, the Red Raiders will also face an extremely stout defensive team. On the season ASU has allowed just two goals over the seven previous matches and has not allowed more than a goal in any match this season.
• Six different Arizona State Sun Devils have found the back of the net led by Enasia Colon who has scored four goals. Colon had a pair of goals against Wright State and NM State.
• On the defensive end of things, Sophomore Paulina Nelles has been a bright spot, recording at least one save in all seven matches this
season. Nelles did her best work of the season in the 0-0 draw against Mississippi State where she saved all eight of the shots on goal
she faced. For the season, Nelles has recorded 22 saves and five shutout.
UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders return home for the start of Big 12 play when they welcome Houston on Thursday night. Kickoff from the Walker is set for 7 p.m.
