Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Soccer Travels to Metroplex to Take On TCU, SMU
September 12, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 12, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas -
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ON TAP FOR THE RED RAIDERS
After pulling to even on the season against Texas-San Antonio, the Texas Tech soccer team travels to the Metroplex for a pair of matches against TCU and SMU.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Red Raiders and Horned Frogs meet for the 15th time in program history. Despite last year's 2-0 victory in Lubbock, Tech is still 3-9-2 all-time against TCU. Tech has never won at Garvey-Rosenthal Stadium, losing all five meetings.
When Tech meets SMU Sunday, the Red Raiders will be going for their first win over the Mustangs in program history. Tech has lost all five previous matches, with three being at Westcott Field.
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 collegate 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 existance from 2001-2003. Stone has also worked as the lead soccer analysist for CSTV, Fox Sports and ESPN, while also serving as a guest columnist for various soccer websites.
GOALS BY COMMITTEE
Through four matches, the Red Raiders have followed a goal by committee approach. In the UTSA match, four different players scored goals, one of which was Jennifer Kammerer's first career.
BY THE NUMBERS
Tech is 3-1-1 all-time when heading into its fifth match after a 2-2 start. The last time the Red Raiders traveled to the Metroplex to play both TCU and SMU was in 2003, which resulted in two losses.
ESQUIVEL MOVING UP CAREER GOALS LIST
With two goals through four matches, senior Priscilla Esquivel continues to rise on the school's career goals list. The Fort Worth native now has 12 career goals and is three from tying Julie Clement and Melanie Brosnahan for fifth place overall.
RED RAIDERS RETURN HOME
Of the Red Raiders' 21 players, 11 hail from the Dallas Metroplex making this weekend's matches a homecoming of sorts. Additionally, all three Red Raider coaches were born and raised in the Dallas area. Before their hire at Tech, assistants Aaron and Ashley Gordon coached and scouted the Metroplex.
DE LEON HITTING ON ALL STRIDES
In her first week as a starter, freshman forward Karen De Leon was a main force in the Red Raiders' scoring attack. De Leon provided her first assist in the second half of the Texas-San Antonio match and later scored her first career goal.
REZAIE LEADING BIG 12
With 25 shots through four matches, sophomore Zhaleh Rezaie leads the Big 12 Conference in both shots and shots per game. The Plano native also scored her first goal of the season against UTSA.
RED RAIDERS FACE TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
With five conference schools (Texas A&M, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma State and Missouri) ranked among the nation in soccer's four main polls, the Red Raiders will be forced to battle in every match. Conference play kicks off Sept. 28, at Colorado. The only ranked Big 12 school Tech faces at home is Oklahoma State Oct. 21. The Red Raiders close regular-season play with a trip to College Station to face No. 5 Texas A&M.
