Texas Tech Opens Big 12 Play Against Iowa State, Nebraska
September 24, 2009 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech (5-4-0) enters the second part of its season this weekend with the start of Big 12 play against Iowa State at 7 p.m. Friday and Nebraska at noon Sunday, both at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
THE IOWA STATE SERIES
After dropping the first 10 of 11 matches in the series, the Red Raiders have won the last two meetings under third-year head coach Tom Stone. Iowa State maintaines a 3-10-0 all-time advantage in the series.
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
Iowa State has done a good job of keeping itself to wins or ties this season as the Cyclones enter Big 12 play with a 4-1-4 overall record. The Cyclones are coming off their only loss of the season, a 2-0 decision at the hands of in-state rival Iowa.
The Cyclones have had trouble scoring goals this season, however, as only Texas has fewer goals than ISU's 11. Amanda Woelfel has a team-high three goals so far, while Amanda Gleason has played every minute in goal, allowing only seven goals for a .071 goals-against-average. Iowa State is under the direction of second-year head coach, Wendy Dillinger, who posted a 5-12-2 overall record in her first season in Ames.
RED RAIDERS IN BIG 12 OPENERS
The Red Raiders are 3-10 all-time in Big 12 openers. Tech last won its conference opener in 2007 after topping Colorado, 1-0, in Boulder. Tech's only other Big 12-opening wins came in 1996 and 1997.
THE NEBRASKA SERIES
Nebraska has controlled the series all-time, maintaining a 14-1-0 advantage. The Cornhuskers' lone loss in the series came in their last visit to Lubbock, a 2-1 defeat in 2007.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Boosting the Big 12's leading offense, Nebraska enters this weekend having won four of its last five matches en route to a 5-1-2 non-conference start. Lehigh sealed Nebraska's lone loss on the season with a 3-1 victory on Aug. 28.
The Cornhuskers have the nation's leading scorer in freshman Morgan Marlborough, who has netted 13 goals through eight matches this season. Backed by Marlborough's production, the Huskers boast the second-leading scoring offense in the nation and top one in the Big 12. Besides Marlborough, Molly Thomas has added six goals, while Tara Macdonald has played the majority of minutes in goal, allowing five goals for a 0.84 goals-against-average. The Cornhuskers are outscoring opponents, 36-9, this season. Nebraska is coached by John Walker, who is 230-87-19 in now his 16th season in Lincoln. Walker is in no relation to the John Walker whose name is attached to Tech's recently-completed soccer facility.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - Jennifer Kammerer
Jennifer Kammerer may not always have the flashiest stats on a box score, but the senior provides Tech one key ingrediant for a young back line. - experience. She has started in 37 of Tech's last 38 matches.
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND
The Red Raiders returned to the John Walker Soccer Complex last weekend for the first time since its season opener against UTSA Aug. 21, dropping a close 2-1 double-overtime loss to Alabama Friday, before recovering to top Weber State, 2-1, on Sunday.
LOOKING AHEAD
Texas Tech wraps its six-match homestand next weekend as the Baylor Bears and Oklahoma Sooners come to Lubbock. The Red Raiders will face the Bears in the annual Battle for the Brand match at 7 p.m., Oct. 2, while Tech and OU will kickoff at 1 p.m., Oct. 4.
HARRISON OUT FOR THE SEASON
Tech lost one of its all-time best scorers last weekend when Brittney Harrison was injured early in the Alabama match. Harrison suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, effectively ending her senior season. Harrison entered the match with five goals and an assist on the season. She finishes her Tech career ranked fourth all-time in goals (24) and points (57), tied for sixth in assists (9), and tied for second in game-winning goals (10).
WARD NAMED BIG 12 NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
For her two-goal effort last weekend in the Red Raider Classic, redshirt freshman Dawn Ward was named this week's Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. Ward, a Midland native, tied the match at 1-1 against Alabama, while also netting the game-winning goal against Weber State. She is the sixth Red Raider all-time to earn a weekly award and third to be recognized as the top newcomer.
THREE PLAYERS NAMED TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM
After helping Tech go 1-1 in the Red Raider Classic, Dawn Ward, Conner Williams and Taylor Lytle were all honored on the all-tournament team. Alabama won the tournament title after topping both Tech and TCU.
NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS DOING WELL
When the Red Raiders entered the season, they knew every match would be a battle as evidence by Tech's non-conference opponents going 41-31-5 overall with most conference's opening league play this weekend. Tech's close 3-2 loss to Auburn may not look as bad on a strength of schedule now, too, as the Tigers took then-No. 1 North Carolina to a scoreless tie on Sept. 20. Tech defeated then-No. 25 Vanderbilt earlier this season, 3-1.
RED RAIDER OFFENSE ATOP NATIONAL CHARTS
When fans or media think offense and see Texas Tech as one of the national leaders, many likely assume its surrounding Tech's football team. The Red Raider soccer team has changed that mentality so far as Tech boasts the No. 26-ranked scoring offense, along with individuals ranked in the top 30 in goals per game (Dawn Ward) and assists per game (Taylor Lytle). Tech enters this weekend trailing only Nebraska in goals or points scored among Big 12 members.
LYTLE STILL LEADS NATION IN ASSISTS
Despite totaling no assists last weekend for the first time all season, Taylor Lytle joins Stanford's Christen Press as the nation's top assists leaders with eight. Lytle had previously notched at least a point in every match this season, including a school-record three assists against TCU on Sept. 4.
