Red Raiders Aim High for the 1998 Season
June 21, 1999 | Women's Soccer
September 11, 1998
Texas Tech Head Soccer Coach Felix Oskam has more patience today than he did this time last year. At the beginning of the 1997 season, he was embarking on his first year at the helm of the program. He had lofty goals and high expectations for the team in which he served as an assistant coach for two seasons. But after a roller coaster season that saw Tech win its first four Big 12 games and subsequently acquire only one victory in their next 10 outings, Oskam realized his expectations may have been a bit high for his young team.
"Looking back, I see that my expectations were too high for this particular team," says Oskam. "I expected too much too quickly. I learned in 1997 that I need to be so much more patient."
But like any roller coaster ride, Oskam has put it behind him and is now looking forward to taking this team back to the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
"Realistically, I want this team to return to the Big 12 Tournament," states Oskam. "But I don't want them to just get there - I want them to win."
Prior to all of that, the Texas Tech soccer team will fight through its strongest non-conference schedule in the history of Texas Tech soccer. The Red Raiders face nationally-ranked SMU in their season opener and then head to College Park, Md., where they take on national powerhouse University of Maryland squad as well as Towson State, a regionally-ranked team last season. At the Butler University Tournament, Tech plays the host school along with Evansville with both teams receiving regional rankings last fall. Texas Christian University and regionally-ranked Colorado College wrap up the non-conference season.
"This is the toughest non-conference schedule we have had at Tech," says Oskam. "But we need to have a strong schedule in order to be competitive."
Entering Big 12 play, the Red Raiders will find themselves in the middle of a dog fight that will have each team vying for one of the six spots in the conference tournament
"There are no easy games in the Big 12 Conference," states Oskam. Along with the rest of the league, Texas Tech will chase 1997 conference champions Texas A&M. The Aggies lost a few key players to graduation, but look to be strong again this season. The University of Nebraska is another team that Oskam expects to lead the Big 12 race, but he also points out that a strong recruiting season makes every conference team a contender.
"Baylor and Texas came on very strong last year," says Oskam. "I would not be surprised if both teams crack the top 30 this season. Solid recruiting has helped the entire conference inch closer and closer to the level of play that Texas A&M and Nebraska are known for in collegiate soccer."
With a relentless, no-time-to-rest schedule, the Red Raiders will look to a team that, for the first time in school history, will not be considered young. Tech returns 17 letterwinners, 10 of which are upperclassmen with previous playing experience.
That should give the Red Raiders a solid leadership base on which to build. Seniors Jennifer Benat, Amy Rutstein, and Vanessa Balderrama will also be looked upon to establish a strong sense of direction for Tech.
On the field, Tech will be led by junior Kristy Frantz. Entering her third season as a starting forward, Frantz has single-handedly rewritten the Red Raider record books. Last season, she led the team in goals with 14, assists with five and points with 33.
"Last year, we all looked to Kristy to score," states Oskam. "But when you have Kristy on your team, there is always the chance that goals can be scored. She is that good and that important to our team."
Ironically, one thing Oskam hopes to see from his team this season is Frantz scoring less.
"There was so much pressure on Kristy last year to score," says Oskam. "This past spring, other players got involved in the scoring and that is what we desperately need to continue to do."
With the double teams Frantz is sure to invite, Oskam looks to the other forwards on the squad to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
Oskam believes sophomore Debra Smith, senior Amy Rutstein, and sophomore Lindsay Thompson all have the opportunity to step up their play this season.
The Texas Tech midfield will be lead by senior Jennifer Benat. A former outside midfielder, Benat found her niche and has adjusted well to the transition to center midfield.
"Jenn has really adapted very well," states Oskam. "She can put tremendous pressure on an opponent to win balls and that is what the team lacked last year."
While Benat can control the middle, Oskam hopes that his outside midfielders will become more involved in the attack.
"We need to get Lizzy Biles and Lindsay Thompson more into the attack to help out not just in assisting, but also in scoring," Oskam said.
A new system of defense may also help Texas Tech in 1998. After experimenting with a zone defense last season, Oskam went back to a man-to-man defensive system after Tech's first two games. However, during the spring season, Oskam implemented the zone defense once again and is now solidly back in place. The second-year head coach is beginning to see his players respond in a positive manner to the switch. "Defensively last year, we didn't play well and our squad knows that," says Oskam. "We made mistakes that cost us games. We understand the zonal system so much better. The key is communication."
Leading the defenders is junior Jamie Woods. A former walk-on, Woods has accepted the leadership role on defense. She is joined by two other former walk-ons who have made their way into more than one starting lineup. Junior Cece Dillon started in four games last season while sophomore Ashlyn Peterson got the nod in 13.
"I know we can play good solid defense and build from out of the back," Oskam said.
Returning in goal for Tech this season is sophomore Kellie McCallister. In 1997, McCallister won the starting position as Tech's netminder despite being 5-3 and a walk-on. Her quick reflexes, keen anticipation and knack for "playing big" turned any doubters of her aptness into believers.
"Looking back on the games Kellie played, she kept us in some games and she won some games for us," states Oskam. "That is what you want out of a goalkeeper."
But maintaining her position as the starting goalkeeper will not be easy for McCallister. She will compete with returnee Lisa Foreman and newcomer Brittney Peese of San Antonio Clark High School. Peese, a 5-8 All-State selection, brings more height and strong athletic ability to the table.
"Kellie, Lisa and Brittney will compete for the best spot," says Oskam. "I will tell them the same thing I told the three goalkeepers last year, 'You three fight it out'."
Other newcomers hoping to win a starting role on Tech's lineup include midfielder Jaime Wolff and forward Lauren Taylor.
Wolff, a product of Kenwood High School in Baltimore Md., competed on the Maryland ODP select team for three years and attended the ODP Regional Camp for Region I the last four years. Her Maryland Majestic club team finished as state champions in 1995 and 1996 and state finalists in 1997.
"I think Jaime can come in and compete right away," states Oskam. "I look for her to step into the outside midfielder position, but Jaime will still need to compete with Lindsay Thompson who has shown tremendous improvement."
A face that is not familiar to Tech fans, but quite familiar to coach Oskam is forward Lauren Taylor. A graduate of Thomas A. Edison High School in Tulsa, Okla., Taylor played for Oskam while he was coaching in Tulsa. She is also the sister of Texas Tech junior defender Kelly Taylor.
"I have known Lauren for a long time," says Oskam. "I know she is a versatile player, and I look for her to add to our attack."
Solidifying the Tech midfield is the acquisition of sophomore transfer Jennifer Hamm. The former New Mexico Player of the Year, Parade All-American and NSCAA All-American comes to Lubbock after playing her freshman year at the University of Hawaii.
"Jenn will be a tremendous boost to our center midfield position," says Oskam. "With Jenn coming to Tech, I now have several options of who to play at midfield."
With all the players intact, Oskam hopes to capitalize on the teams' strengths and work on those areas where they faltered last season. He counts the team's chemistry and unity as its greatest asset.
"They are willing to work for each other and fight for each other," states Oskam. "That is what I want to build on."
But the Red Raiders also hold a "Never say die" attitude and maturity that will help when their tough schedule begins to take its toll.
"We never gave up last year," says Oskam. "That is one character of this team that I really like. Even if the score was 0-5, we still kept fighting. Also, we have grown up. The majority of our team will be sophomores, juniors and senior players."
But Tech will have to work to become more patient with the ball and more aggressive in the air.
"Some players are still forcing the ball into areas where it doesn't need to be," states Oskam. "We must do a better job of maintaining possession and knocking the ball around quicker. Another thing to work on is winning air balls. We need to be more aggressive and willing to put a body on an opponent. We have to initiate pressure and intimidate our opponents instead of the other way around."
Oskam hopes several things will be turned around this season. He looks for this team to return to the Big 12 Championship and reclaim its spot among the best in the Central Region. But Oskam enters this season with a different perspective from 1997. He has learned more about himself, his team, and the game.
"I want them to play better so the results will be different," says Oskam. "The bottom line is we have got to win games. We can only do that by playing good, solid defense and an attractive attacking style offense. It is going to take some time for us to become a top-20 program, but in the next two or three years, we will be there."
For Oskam and the 1998 Red Raiders, there is no time like the present to begin their climb to the top.