Texas Tech Athletics
Weber State
Ward's Goal Lifts Texas Tech Over Weber State
September 20, 2009 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 20, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Dawn Ward netted the game-winning goal in the 79th minute to cap Texas Tech's 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Weber State Sunday in front of 623 fans at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
Ward's seventh goal of the season and second on the weekend helped Tech finish the Red Raider Classic with a crucial win after losing Friday to Alabama off a goal with two seconds remaining in the second overtime period. The Red Raiders move to 5-4 entering conference play next weekend, while Weber State drops to 4-3 overall.
"I thought today's win was a nice response from the disappointment from Friday," Tech head coach Tom Stone said. "I was really proud of the team for digging themselves out of the one-goal hole to come back to win a game that we really had to win. For our record to stay intact, we had to win today, so that's nice that we got it when we really had to have it."
After several failed scoring opportunities for Tech early in the match, Ari Wood got Weber State on the board first in the 19th minute, taking a Jessie Baddley pass from the top of the box, then firing to the far post past a diving Colleen Pitts. The goal was Wood's second of the season.
For the second match in a row, the Red Raiders were unable to find the back of the net in the first half as the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Tech came out firing in the second half, however, as Karen De Leon quickly tied the match in the 48th minute, taking the rebound from a Katie Hinds shot attempt into goalkeeper Rebecca Ritchie and sliding the ball to the left post for her second goal of the season.
After 30 minutes of back-and-forth action, Ward sealed Tech's victory off a Conner Williams pass from the top of the box, shooting just over the out-stretched arms of Ritchie for her first career game-winning goal.
Tech was unable to repeat its 30-shot performance from Friday night as the Red Raiders maintained a 14-8 shot advantage in the match, while also attempting four corner kicks to Weber State's zero. Taylor Lytle paced the Tech offense with seven shot attempts, including four on goal, while Colleen Pitts earned the win in goal, collecting one save over 90 minutes.
Alabama won the tournament title earlier in the day with a 1-0 victory over TCU. Ward, Williams and Lytle were all members of the All-Tournament team announced following the match.
The Red Raiders continue their six-match home stand next weekend with the start of Big 12 play against Iowa State at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 and Nebraska at 1 p.m. Sept. 27.
