Texas Tech Athletics
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Kansas
Red Raiders Shutout Kansas
October 15, 2010 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 15, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - Getting its 10th shutout of the season, the Texas Tech soccer team defeated Kansas 2-0 on Friday night at the John Walker Soccer Complex in front of 1,426 fans.
The first 10 minutes looked eerily similar to another big win this season against Colorado. Tech (10-5-1/3-3-1 Big 12) dominated possession and won the vast majority of loose balls to set a tempo that was favorable to the Red Raiders.
"I thought we had great energy tonight and it got us going at them right from the whistle," said head coach Tom Stone.
Tech had seven corner kicks on the night and it was on the third corner that Tech took the lead. Junior Taylor Lytle, starting her first game since taking a brutal tackle against North Texas nine games ago, played a driven ball to the middle of the six and freshman Jessica Fuston skied over a Kansas (5-10/1-6 Big 12) defender to hammer home her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
"Taylor's serve was on the money and Jessica just did what she does--she is really a terrific finisher in the air," Stone stated. "As far as Taylor goes, this night was a great reminder of what we are like when we have her in the lineup. She just makes everyone around her better and if you make a great run, Taylor will make sure you get the ball right where you want it. Her return to full-time action could not have come at a better time because this was a game we really had to have to keep things going in the right direction."
Tech went on to outshoot the Jayhawks 13-1 the rest of the way and in the 40th minute it was junior Casey McCall who got on the end of a Lytle set piece and headed a powerful header low and past the KU keeper and near post defender.
"Casey is not tall in stature but plays huge when she goes after balls in the air. Her tenacity for 90 minutes was fantastic and her goal was a just reward for an overall great game," Stone said.
Going into halftime, Tech led 2-0.
In the second half, the Jayhawks stepped up the pressure and created nine shots to the Red Raiders' six but the Tech backline and goalkeeper sophomore Erin Wikelius were equal to the challenge and were never seriously threatened.
"I give KU credit for bringing the pressure a bit more coming out of halftime but after we weathered the first 15 minutes, the game settled down and we did a nice job of closing out the game with the lead and the shutout intact," stated Stone.
The game wound down with sophomore Sarah Ellison and junior Madison Terry deep in KU territory keeping the ball back and forth and the clock went to zero and Tech had secured the Big 12 victory.
"You hear a lot about total team efforts but this cliché rings very true tonight as each line and every player played a real role in getting the three points," said Stone.
The shutout marked the 10th of the season for the Red Raiders and the fourth of the season, and of her career, for Wikelius. The win also guarantees Tech its first winning season since 1996 and only its second in the history of the Big 12.
Tech will rest Sunday with no match and have a full seven days to recover and prepare for next Friday. The Red Raiders wrap-up their regular-season games at home next weekend when they host Iowa State on Fri., Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. and Missouri on Sun., Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. Tech will honor its seniors prior to the start of Friday night's match.
