Texas Tech Stars Shine on Opening Day of NWSL Season
April 21, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Four former Texas Tech soccer players logged minutes in Saturday's opening day of the 2016 National Women's Soccer League season.
April 21, 2016
LUBBOCK. Texas -- Four former Texas Tech soccer players logged minutes in Saturday's opening day of the 2016 National Women's Soccer League season."Obviously we are thrilled that our former players are succeeding on the pro level," head Texas Tech soccer coach Tom Stone said. "Watching these young ladies grow over their four years here has been fantastic, and getting to watch them now as professionals is equally as exciting."
Janine Beckie (2015) and Taylor Lytle (2011) both found their way onto the scoresheet in Saturday's season opener. Beckie scored in her pro debut with the Houston Dash, while Lytle carded her first assist of the 2016 season with Sky Blue FC.
Jaelene Hinkle (2014), who is also under contract with the USWNT, made her 21st career start at left back for the Western New York Flash. Caity Heap (2015) made her pro debut with the Dash entering the game as a midfielder in the second half of Houston's win over Chicago.
All four Texas Tech alumna helped their team secure opening day wins as Heap and Beckie aided the Dash to a 3-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars while Lytle and Sky Blue FC topped Seattle Reign FC, 2-1. Hinkle and the Flash defeated FC Kansas City, 1-0, on the road in Saturday's season opener.
"In addition to earning a great degree, we have always had the dual initiative of wanting to win big and help those players with pro aspirations achieve that goal," added Stone. "The success of these Red Raiders is also terrific motivation for our current squad and future student-athletes as well."
The Big 12, as a whole, was represented by nine players scattered throughout the NWSL's 10 teams. Of those nine players, four hail from the Texas Tech soccer program.
