Tech Soccer Hosts Iowa State, Nebraska This Weekend
October 11, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 11, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas -
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Texas Tech vs. Iowa State Fri., Oct. 12, 7 p.m.
Texas Tech vs. Nebraska Sun., Oct. 14, Noon
ON TAP FOR THE RED RAIDERS
Following a rough weekend against Missouri and Kansas, Texas Tech resumes the second-half of its four-game homestand facing Iowa State Fri., Oct. 12, and Nebraska Sun., Oct. 14, at R.P. Fuller Stadium.
RED RAIDERS ON THE AIR
All of Tech's home matches this season will be broadcast live through Red Raider All-Access at texastech.com. Eric Quisenberry will provide the play-by play, while Gabriel Martinez will join him as the color commentator. All Sunday home matches can also be heard around the Lubbock area on AM News 1420 KJDL.
RED RAIDERS UNDER NEW DIRECTION
Following a stint as an assistant at Clemson, Tom Stone comes to Texas Tech for his first season as a collegiate head coach. This is not Stone's first time to be a head coach, however. He led the Atlanta Beat of the WUSA for all three years of its existence from 2001-2003. Stone has also worked as the lead soccer analyst for CSTV, Fox Sports and ESPN, while also serving as a guest columnist for various soccer websites.
SCOUTING THE CYCLONES
Iowa State enters the weekend sitting 2-1-1 in the Big 12 and 9-1-2 overall after falling to Colorado, 1-0, and tying No. 4 Texas, 1-1, last weekend. The Cyclones are led offensively by sophomore midfielder Elise Reid, who has five goals on 23 shots through 11 games this season. Defensively, sophomore goalkeeper Ann Gleason leads the Big 12 in goals allowed with seven and shutouts with five. The Cyclones have allowed the least amount of goals this season in the Big 12. The Red Raiders are 1-10 all-time against the Cyclones, losing the last nine-consecutive matches.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Tech is second in the Big 12 in corner kicks per game.
- The Red Raiders have never had a multi-goal game in school history against Nebraska.
- All of Tech's 11 goals have come in the second half.
- Tech has been shut-out in four of the past five matches with Iowa State.
- Eight different Red Raiders have scored goals this season.
SCOUTING THE HUSKERS
Nebraska enters Sunday's match-up tied with Tech at 1-3 in the Big 12, while sitting 3-6-1 overall. The Red Raiders will be going for their first career victory against the Huskers as Tech has lost all 13 previous matches. With three goals this season, sophomore forward Shay Powell leads a Huskers offense that averages 1.17 goals per game. Freshman goalkeeper Jessica Mills is second in the Big 12 in saves, while also posting three shutouts in 12 matches this season. The Huskers have allowed 15 goals this season, tying Tech for third-most in the Big 12.
ESQUIVEL TAKING ON "IRON MAN" ROLE
Despite being one of the most accomplished players in Red Raider soccer history, perhaps the most encouraging feature about senior Priscilla Esquivel is her leadership. According to Stone, the driving force behind the Red Raiders success has been Esquivel's ability to make plays across the field playing numerous positions and her resilience to never give up.
HARRISON KEEPING BIG 12's TOP PLAYERS IN CHECK
Even though she might be the team's best offensive player, sophomore defender Brittney Harrison's key role has been to stop the opposition's star forward. Two weeks ago, Harrison helped led Tech to a 1-1 weekend at Colorado and Texas with her defense on Texas' Kelsey Carpenter and Colorado's Nikki Marshall. Harrison has one goal on eleven shots, while only sitting four minutes this season.
CLOPTON, HARRISON HARD TO REPLACE
Besides being the team's top two defenders, sophomore defenders Sarabeth Clopton and Brittney Harrison also lead the team in most minutes played with 916 each. The duo's only minutes on the bench came last Sunday against Kansas.
RED RAIDERS WORKING TOWARDS BIG 12 TOURNEY SPOT
Tied for eighth place through four conference matches, the Red Raiders have a chance to qualify for the Big 12 Conference Championship for the first time since the 1999 season.
DE LEON PROVIDING SPARK IN FIRST YEAR
With two goals through 10 matches, freshman forward Karen De Leon is tied for the team lead in total goals. The Las Cruces, N.M., native has started in seven matches thus far averaging 47.7 minutes per match.
RED RAIDERS SURVIVING AS THE "LONE RANGER"
Once every 10 years, a Big 12 school has to play two conference games each weekend, while its Sunday opponent only has to play one. This season is Tech's year to be the "Lone Ranger", but the Red Raiders seem to be adapting well in holding No. 3 Texas to just one goal last Sunday. Tech's future Sunday opponents include No. 23 Oklahoma State and No. 5 Texas A&M.
FROM THE METROPLEX TO LUBBOCK
Of the Red Raiders' 21 players, 11 hail from the Dallas Metroplex making the September weekend trip to face TCU and SMU a homecoming of sorts. Additionally, all three Red Raider coaches grew up in the Dallas area. Before their hire at Tech, assistants Aaron and Ashley Gordon directed and coached the youth soccer club FC Dallas.
