Tech open Big 12 play Thursday at TCU

FORT WORTH – Riding a three match winning streak and winners of five-of-six, Texas Tech Soccer begins its Big 12 title defense Thursday night when they head to TCU for the Big 12 opener.

Seeking to extend a 17-match Big 12 unbeaten streak, Texas Tech was picked second in the preseason poll while the Horned Frogs were picked third.

This week will feature one of two "mini-bye" weeks for the Red Raiders during conference play, as Tech does not have a Sunday match this week. The other mini-bye for the Red Raiders will come the weekend of Oct. 5 when Tech plays its first of two Friday night matches against Baylor.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (5-2) at TCU (4-2)
DATE: Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024
LOCATION: Forth Worth, Texas (Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium)
TIME: 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:
Behind two goals in the first five minutes, and three in the first 15, Texas Tech Soccer rolled past Oregon 5-1, Thursday night at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

In the dominant first half, Texas Tech (5-2) once again got off to a flying start, when defender Macy Blackburn raced down the right-side of pitch and buried a rocket from 25-yards out for her first goal of the season just three minutes and two seconds into the match.

Up 1-0, Blackburn was again involved with the second goal, when the All-American threaded a perfect long ball to a streaking Ashleigh Williams. Williams, who despite ripping 19 total shots over the season's first six matches hadn't scored, quickly changed that when she raced past the Oregon (3-3) backline and slotted a shot past the Ducks keeper.

The assist for Blackburn was her 27th of her career which ties her with 2024 Texas Tech Hall of Famer Taylor Lytle for the all-time program mark.

Armed with a two-goal lead, the Red Raiders hit their magic number of three goals moments later, when a perfect 1-2 sequence from Peyton Parsons and Elise Anderson resulted in the first career goal for sophomore Storie Sexton.

Sexton, who tonight became the ninth different Red Raider to score this season, tapped in a perfect feed from Anderson for the Red Raiders third goal of the night in the 15th minute.

Up by three, the Red Raiders struck for a pair of goals in the 33rd and 36th minutes respectfully, as sophomore Skylar Haase buried a perfect pass from Alana Harry for her second goal of the season and Kaitlyn Giametta scored a penalty kick goal for her second goal in as many matches.

Heading to the locker room with a 5-0 lead, Tech did allow a 69th minute goal by Oregon's Taylor Bryan before closing out a tidy 5-1 win.

In her first action since suffering an injury back on Aug. 25 against Utah State, GK Faith Nguyen made one save in just under 80 minutes of action before exiting for Oregon Sidney O'billovich midway through the 80th minute.

With the victory, the Red Raiders have now won three matches in-a-row and closed non-conference play with five wins in seven matches. Tech will also take a 17-match regular season home unbeaten streak into Big 12 play. Thursday's 5-1 win also marked the 59th straight win when scoring at least three goals.

QUICK KICKS:
• The Red Raiders enter the start of Big 12 play riding a three-match winning streak and having won five-of-six overall, after Thursday's 5-1 rout of Oregon.

• The Red Raiders since a 2-0 setback at No. 11 Utah State, have now rattled off a pair of four goal wins against Weber State (4-0) and Oregon (5-1) as well as a five goal win over Oral Roberts (5-0).

• Dating back to last season and including the postseason, the Red Raiders enter the weekend with a record of 21-4-5 (.783) over their last 30 matches. Last season the Red Raiders went 16-2-5 overall after advancing to the programs second Round of 16 appearance all-time.

• In addition to winning 59 straight matches when scoring three or more goals, the Red Raiders are now 32-0-1 when scoring two goals the last three seasons.

• The lone non-win in that span was last years 2-2 draw at No. 7 BYU. The Red Raiders are riding a 35-match unbeaten streak (34-0-1) when scoring at least two goals.

• The Red Raiders closed non-conference play at 5-2 overall and having won three straight.

• Boasting one of the deepest attacks in the country, nine different Red Raiders have scored a goal this season through the first seven matches highlighted by a pair of players with five or more goals in Peyton Parsons (7) and Taylor Zdrojewski (5).

• Amongst the nine Red Raiders with a goal, five have multiple goals including true freshman Alana Harry (2G, 3A) and Skylar Haase (3G). Of the nine Red Raiders to score, four have recorded their first career goal this season (Haase, Harry, Storie Sexton and Zdrojewski).

• Zdrojewski who hadn't scored coming into 2024 as previously mentioned is sitting on five goals.

• After not scoring through the first six matches of the season despite 19 total shots, Ashleigh Williams finally got on the board last week. Williams who is the fifth Red Raider all-time to reach 30 goals, has scored 32 career goals in her career.

UP NEXT:
Following another Sunday off, Tech will return to action next Thursday night (Sept. 19) for the Big 12 home opener against Utah. First touch from the John Walker Soccer Complex is set for 7 p.m.

Texas Tech University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Elise Anderson

Macy Blackburn

Kaitlyn Giametta

Skylar Haase

Alana Harry

Faith Nguyen

Sidney O'billovich

Peyton Parsons

Storie Sexton

Ashleigh Williams

Taylor Zdrojewski

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