Women's Soccer Opens Up Conference Play
September 20, 2000 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 20, 2000
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Upcoming for the Red Raiders... The Red Raiders open conference play this weekend when they travel to take on in-state rivals Texas and Texas A&M. Tech plays A&M at 7 p.m. Friday in College Station, then meets Texas Sunday at 1 p.m. in Austin. Tech defeated both squads last season at home, taking a 3-0 victory over the Longhorns on October 8. Kristy Frantz and Jennifer Hamm both tallied a goal and an assist in the match, to go along with a goal from Lizzy Biles. The Red Raiders hold a 3-2-1 series advantage over UT, including three wins and a tie in the last five meetings. The Raiders took a 1-0 victory over then seventh-ranked Texas A&M just two days after defeating Texas last season. Carrie Graham scored the only goal of the match on an assist from Kelly Taylor. The Aggies hold a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series, and come into the match ranked in the Top 10 in the country for the second straight year. The wins over Texas and Texas A&M came during a stretch of the 1999 season where the Red Raiders won four of five matches, including three victories within the conference.
Boyea Named High School Female Athlete of the Year: Freshmen Tech soccer player Tiana Boyea was named the Female High School Athlete of the Year during a ceremony hosted by the Texas Shootout Classic 2000 in August. Boyea, a 2000 graduate of Plano East Senior High School, has a long list of academic and athletic accomplishments, including graduating in the top 25 percent of her class with a 3.5 grade-point average. She also received recognition in Algebra and English, was a Venture Scholar, and was recognized in Who's Who Among American High School Students while at Plano East. She was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in high school. Her athletic achievements include serving as team captain for both the varsity and junior varsity, JV Top Defensive Player, four varsity soccer letters (1997-2000), District 9-5A Second Team in 1998 and 1999, North Texas State Cup Finalist from 1997-99, and District 9-5A Co-Champions in 1999. She has also participated in the Region III Olympic Development Program State Pool from 1996-2000, was selected MVP of the Oklahoma Cup as a member of the Texas Spirit `83 select squad, and served as captain of her select team the last two years. This was the eighth annual event hosted by the Texas Shootout Classic, which brings recognition to one female and one male high school athlete from the state of Texas. Candidates must meet the committee's expectations for athletic and academic excellence, as well as being recognized as a positive role model for young people through leadership activities, attitude and lifestyle. The event also helps to raise funds for local and national charitable organizations. This year's proceeds were donated to the National Tuberous Sclerosis Association.
Tech soccer takes home opener, 3-2: Melanie Brosnahan scores twice, including game-winner Junior Melanie Brosnahan scored two goals, including the game-winner in the final 15 minutes of the match, to lead Texas Tech to a 3-2 victory over West Texas A&M in the Red Raiders home opener Thursday afternoon. Brosnahan's goals were her first two of the season and her first two as a Red Raider, after spending her first two collegiate seasons at the University of Oklahoma. The match was sluggish and sloppy at times, with most of the action taking place in the visitors defensive end. Tech attacked the entire match, outshooting WTAM, 26-11 overall, 14-9 in shots on goal. Brosnahan got the first goal of the match in the 26th minute, turning and shooting from just outside the six-yard box on an assist by Lindsey Wile. The visiting Buffaloes knotted the game at one on a goal from Sharra Mitchell just a minute later, then took a 2-1 advantage before halftime on a goal from Courtney Massie. Massie's goal was set up by a long pass from Mitchell, and Massie punished a shot over the outstretched arms of Tech keeper Brittney Peese. But the Red Raiders came out of the locker room quickly, with Wile scoring just over a minute into the second half, heading a Brosnahan cross into the back of the net for her third goal of the season. The next 30 minutes saw few chances for either squad, with Tech's Carrie Graham taking two good shots at the WTAM keeper, but Jamie Griffis made the saves to keep the score tied at two apiece. In the 87th minute, Brosnahan and Wile played a beautiful game of give-and-go, setting up Brosnahan to beat Griffis low and right for the game-winner and a 3-2 Tech victory. Graham led all players with 12 shots in the game, including seven on goal. Mitchell had three of WTAM's nine shots on goal in the match. The win gives Tech a 5-2 overall record in home openers, including two straight victories over West Texas A&M at R.P. Fuller Stadium.
Red Raiders suffer 2-1 defeat: Tulsa scores game-winner after Tech goal waived off The Tulsa Golden Hurricane scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute of Sunday's match for a 2-1 victory over Texas Tech at R.P. Fuller Stadium. The game-winner off the foot of Beth Taruscio came just minutes after Tech's Carrie Graham had apparently put her team ahead, but the play was ruled offsides in what was a very physical match on both sides. Taruscio's goal was set up by Julie Twellman, whole stole a cross-field pass and touched it forward to Taruscio. The junior midfielder moved in all alone, beating the Tech keeper for the win. Both teams scored once in the opening half, with Graham netting her third goal of the season on an assist from Marie Valdez in the 26th minute. Tulsa knotted the match on a successful penalty kick from Julie Davidson in the 39th minute. The Red Raiders outshot the Golden Hurricanes, 23-13, in the match, including 10-8 in shots on goal. Graham led all players with eight shots in the match, followed by Tech's Monica Miller, who had five.
Graham, Loyd Earn All-Tournament Honors: Tech junior forward Carrie Graham and freshman defender Tracy Loyd were each named to the all-tournament team at the LSU Invitational. The Red Raiders dropped both matches in the tournament, losing 2-1 to host LSU on Friday, September 1, before suffering a tough 1-0 defeat to Mississippi on Sunday, September 3. Graham had one assist and took seven shots in two matches, while Loyd played solid in both matches of the tournament against the Tigers and Rebels.
Red Raiders Picked Ninth in Coaches Poll: Texas Tech was picked to finish ninth in the preseason Big 12 coaches poll. TTU accumulated 30 points in the voting. Nebraska tallied 10 first-place votes and 100 points to lead the poll, with Texas A&M gathering the other first-place vote and 90 points. The Red Raiders finished the 1999 season in eighth place, advancing to the conference tournament for the second time in four seasons. Tech lost, 1-0, to eventual tourney champion Nebraska at the Big 12 Tournament.
Red Raiders Win Home Opener: The Texas Tech Red Raiders beat West Texas A&M in their home debut, 3-2, at R.P. Fuller Stadium on Thursday, September 14th. Melanie Brosnahan (Junior - Plano, Texas) had two goals and one assist, earning her first points of the 2000 season. Trailing 2-1 at halftime, Tech quickly responded early in the second half as Brosnahan crossed the ball to Lindsey Wile (Sophomore - Austin, Texas), who headed the ball into the net for her third goal of the year. Brosnahan then scored the game-winning goal by running onto a ball in the box and shooting past the West Texas A&M goalkeeper during the 77th minute of play. The 3-2 outcome was the same result as last year, with the Red Raiders coming out on top.
Freshmen Attack!!!: Head Coach Felix Oskam started six freshman against West Texas A&M. Ellen McNamara (Dallas, Texas), Tracy Loyd (Lubbock, Texas), Tiana Boyea (Plano, Texas), Monica Miller (Albuquerque, N.M.), Lindsey Scott (Wylie, Texas), and Ali Jepson (Portland, Ore.) have already seen significant playing time in their first eight games. With a strong nucleus of young players, the future looks bright for the Texas Tech Women's Soccer program.
R.P. Fuller Stadium to get Lights in 2001: Head Coach Felix Oskam is proud to announce that R.P. Fuller Stadium, home of the Women's Soccer Team, will add lights sometime this year. Construction should be finished by the time the Red Raiders open play for the 2001 season. Night games will be a great addition for Texas Tech not only by increasing attendance, but also in creating a great climate in which to play soccer.
Red Raiders set for Big XII Play: Texas Tech opens Big XII play on the road at Texas A&M on Friday, September 22nd, and then plays at the University of Texas on Sunday, September 24th. The Red Raiders will look to sweep both in-state rivals as they did last year, beating the Aggies, 1-0, and defeating the Longhorns, 3-0.
Head Coach Felix Oskam: Felix Oskam enters the 2000 season with a three-year record of 22-29-4. Previously, Oskam had served as an assistant coach for the team during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Prior to coming to Tech in 1995, Oskam served for three years as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs at the University of Tulsa. During the 1993 season, the Tulsa women's program finished ranked 18th in the nation. In 1991, the Tulsa men's team achieved a national ranking of 17th. Oskam is currently a staff coach and instructor for the North Texas Soccer Association and the Region III Olympic Development Program (ODP). He also worked as a staff coach for the ODP in Oklahoma and coached the Blackwatch `80 girls select team in Tulsa. Oskam played 12 years of club soccer in the Netherlands before attending the University of North Texas. While at North Texas, he helped guide the Eagles to their first national ranking and was twice chosen as a Texas Collegiate Soccer League All-Star. Oskam holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" license and is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Tech Battles Through 1999 Season: The 1999 campaign started and ended with a national and conference powerhouse on the schedule, and in-between, a slew of tough opponents that challenged and demanded great play from every member of head coach Felix Oskam's squad. The Red Raiders began the season with a hardfought, 1-0 defeat to Nebraska, a difficult task to open any campaign with a conference road match. Tech bounced back to win three of four conference matches later in the campaign, defeating then seventh-ranked Texas A&M, 1-0, in Lubbock. The 8-11-1 final record included a 5-3 mark at home and a 4-6 record in the Big 12. The victory over the Aggies, as well as a 3-0 defeat of Texas, came during a stretch of four wins in five games, three of those in the conference.
Seven Raiders Earn Academic Honors: Seven Red Raiders earned academic honors from the Big 12 conference in 1999, including four current team members. Seniors Lindsay Thompson and Kelly Taylor, as well as juniors Brittney Peese and Marie Valdez, all earned First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors after last season. Thompson, a 5-4 midfielder from Houston, Texas, garnered the award for the second straight year. She is a psychology major. Taylor, the 5-6 defender from Tulsa, Okla., also earned the honor for the second consecutive season. Taylor majors in history. Peese majors in history and anthropology, and Valdez looks to earn a degree in biology. Peese played in 17 matches in `99, posting a 1.94 goals-against-average in net. She made 76 saves and allowed 34 goals. Valdez played in 18 matches with two starts, recording one goal and one assist for the season. Junior Melanie Brosnahan also earned first-team honors in both of her seasons at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to Texas Tech.
14 Red Raiders Named to Commissioner's Honor Roll: Fourteen Red Raiders were named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll after the 1999 season, including nine current members of the squad. Among those honored included departed team members Jennifer Alfred, Lizzy Biles, Jennifer Hronek, Kellie McAllister and Ashlyn Peterson. Current team members named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll were goalkeepers JoDee Campbell and Brittney Peese, forwards Carrie Graham, Debra Smith and Marie Valdez, midfielders Lindsay Thompson and Lindsey Wile, and defenders Ana Ontiveroz and Kelly Taylor.