Texas Tech Athletics
Iowa State
Quick Start Pushes Texas Tech Past Iowa State
September 25, 2009 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 25, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Dawn Ward and Conner Williams provided first half goals to push Texas Tech to a 2-0 shutout over Iowa State Friday night in the Big 12 opener at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
The win was Tech's (6-4-0; 1-0) third-consecutive over Iowa State and moved the Red Raiders to 2-1 in Big 12 openers under head coach Tom Stone. The loss drops Iowa State to 4-2-4 on the season and 0-1 in Big 12 play.
"It's always big to get a Big 12 win no matter when you get it," Stone said. "It's obviously special to win the first one and get off to a good start. Every win in the Big 12 is tough to come by, so we know not to take them for granted."
After a back-and-forth beginning to the match, Tech was able to get its offense going in the 20th minute as Casey McCall booted the ball down field to a streaking Ward at the top of the box. Ward, after controlling the ball, fired to the left corner of the net for her team-leading eighth goal of the season, while McCall earned her first assist of the season on the play.
Tech kept the momentum going only 10 minutes later as Taylor Lytle was able to split the defense and find Williams to her right, giving Williams the far post goal for her third of the season. The assist was Lytle's NCAA-leading ninth of the season, which also matched the Tech single-season record held by Kristi Patterson and Kristy Frantz.
"Taylor had a great match-up tonight because they put their best player on her, and they had a heads-up dual," Stone said. "I thought it was great to watch Taylor respond from having so much pressure on her from one exceptional player, and at the end of the night, Taylor had the assist to put the game away and was dangerous until the final whistle. I was really proud of Taylor's mentality and her fitness."
The Red Raiders continued to control the action in the second half, but Iowa State goalkeeper Ann Gleason made two quick saves on Lytle shot attempts to keep Tech off the board in the second half.
Tech's backline, however, was just as resilient as the unit posted its first shutout since the season opener Aug. 21 against Lamar. Goalkeeper Colleen Pitts played all 90 minutes, collecting a save, while earning her first career shutout.
With the Big 12's leading offense coming to town Sunday in Nebraska, the young backline will get little rest as the Cornhuskers present a different style of offense than the Cyclones.
"It's a totally different kind of team," Stone said of the Cornhuskers. "Nebraska is big, strong, direct and physical, and they play for balls in the air. They are the direct opposite of Iowa State, who wants to put the ball on the ground and play. We are going to have to adjust and be ready for a battle."
Tech and Nebraska are set to kickoff at noon Sunday from the John Walker Soccer Complex. The Cornhuskers fell to Colorado, 1-0, Friday in Boulder.
