Texas Tech Athletics
Baylor
Red Raider Soccer Solidifies Spot in Big 12 Championship
October 26, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 26, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas - For the first time since the Big 12's inaugural season, the Texas Tech soccer team will close the regular season with a winning conference record as the Red Raiders defeated Baylor, 2-1, Friday night in Waco to improve to 5-3-1 in the Big 12, 7-6-2 overall.
The win also allows Tech to take the "Battle for the Brand" trophy for the second-consecutive season. The Red Raiders defeated the Bears, 2-0, in the trophy's inaugural match last season.
With the match tied late in the second half, the Red Raiders appeared to be heading to their third overtime this season, until Baylor's Jessica Hutton put a Lara Doherty pass past Tech goalkeeper Tina Rincon in the 74th minute.
Tech would respond nine minutes later as Sarabeth Clopton knocked in her second goal of the season off a Julie Conn pass.
Zhaleh Rezaie would score her fourth game-winning goal of the season just two minutes later as the sophomore connected off a Priscilla Esquivel pass.
Following two consecutive shutouts, Rincon collected eight saves, none more important than the ones at the end when the Red Raiders put defender Brittney Harrison on the offensive attack.
"This game was very unique in the fact that we were away and down with nine minutes ago, but we came from behind," Tech head coach Tom Stone said. "I cannot say enough about the resiliency of these girls. When faced with the prospect of losing this game, I was so impressed with the resiliency of our team refusing to lose. I cannot say enough about how proud I am of this team."
The Red Raiders out-matched the Bears statistically, attempting 13 shots and six corner kicks to Baylor's 10 and five.
Thanks to an Oklahoma loss, Tech has officially qualified for next month's Big 12 Championship for the first time since 1999.
Tech's regular season finale at Texas A&M Sunday will pit the conference's top-two teams against each other as both Texas and Missouri lost tonight allowing the Red Raiders to climb in the standings. Sunday's match is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start.
