Tech bounces back, downs SMU 2-0

Thursday, August 28

Lubbock, Texas

7 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

4-1-0, 0-0-0

SMU

3-2-0, 0-0-0

SMU

Texas Tech

August 28, 2025 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF) Highlights Press Conference

The Red Raiders won their 14th-straight non-conference home regular season match and improved to 20-1-1 at the John Walker Soccer Complex in the regular season since 2023.

By: Andrew Stern

LUBBOCK, Texas – In the first matchup between a pair of in-state rivals in nearly two decades, Texas Tech Soccer downed former conference foe SMU, 2-0, Thursday night at a packed John Walker Soccer Complex.

After a very disappointing 2-0 set back on Sunday afternoon at San Francisco, Texas Tech (4-1-0) used a goal and an assist from Macy Blackburn and the first career collegiate goal from transfer Emilie McCartney to seal the first all-time win over SMU (3-2-0) in program history.

Looking to snap a streak of conceding a goal in three straight matches, the Red Raider backline held the Mustangs to just nine total shots only one of which was on goal, as goalkeeper Faith Nguyen was forced to make just the one save in her 12th career clean sheet at Tech. That moved her past Stephanie Carter and into sixth place on the all-time shutouts list.

As has been a trademark or staple for Tech teams the last three seasons, the Red Raiders found an early goal when midway through the 13th minute a dangerous ball was cleared over the endline by SMU for the first corner kick of the night by either side.

On the ensuing attempt, Blackburn delivered a perfect ball that connected with a wide-open McCartney just outside the six-yard box.

Showing the poise of a player with over 40 career appearances, McCartney slotted home a low line-drive header into the bottom-right corner of the night for her first career goal. The Miami transfer played all 90 minutes and anchored the Red Raider backline that allowed just the nine total shots and one shot on goal.

The Red Raiders moved to a perfect 3-0-0 this season in McCartney's three starts and have now outscored opponents 8-1 in those three matches.

In the 16th minute another P4 transfer, Sophie Neves, nearly dented the scoresheet for the first time as a Red Raider, but her skipping shot was saved by SMUs Aubrey Brown for the first of three saves the keeper would make.

The chance by Neves was the final shot on goal by other side in the opening 45, as the match went into the break with the Red Raiders on top.

After halftime, the Red Raiders again scored in the first 15 minutes of the half when a strong run by Virginia transfer Chloe Japic ended in a perfect pass to Freshman Emma Torres. Showing strong patience, Torres slipped a picture-perfect ball to a streaking Blackburn deep in the Mustangs 18-yard box. Blackburn eluded a charging and diving Brown for her sixth career goal and 49th and 50th career points.

The assist for Blackburn was her team-best fifth of the season through five games and was her 38th career increasing her all-time program-best mark. She needs just three points to tie Dawn Ward for the 10th-most points in program history (53).

Armed with the ever important two-goal lead the Red Raiders cruised down the stretch closing out their 27th clean sheet since the start of the 2023 season.

Thursday's victory was the Red Raiders 14th straight home non-conference regular season win and the 20th regular season home win in their last 22 home matches (20-1-1).

That 14-match home non-conference regular season winning streak dates back to an Aug. 25, 2022, 1-1 draw against UNM and has featured 56 total goals. The Red Raiders have conceded just four times in the stretch.

By guiding his team to a bounce back win, head coach Tom Stone improved to 18-2-6 (.808) when following a loss since 2018 and to 28-3-4 (.857) all-time after suffering defeat to a non-conference opponent.

With the two-goal performance, Tech improved to 38-0-1 when scoring twice since the start of the 2022 season and to 47-2-1 when finding the back of the net twice in a match since 2021.

HEAD COACH TOM STONE:
"We're happy for Emile [McCartney] to get her first-career college goal. That was so magical and I'm just so happy for a kid who fought her tail off last year for her former team and played every minute of every game. She found a new home here and is surrounded by a group of defenders that compliment her better and she compliments them. She plays with great joy and commitment. She was fabulous against Santa Clara and then got a goal tonight, so I couldn't be happier for her and for the whole backline. We've seen Macy [Blackburn] score before and score that exact goal actually. But the upperclassmen had to start carrying this team and they were needing to push a little bit harder and ask some more of themselves. Those two goals were fabulous."

On Emma Torres:
"We talked at halftime about the combinations and connection between the attacking-mids and outside backs and how they can play together and create things. And how it shouldn't be individuals attacking one-v-one and how they should be working as a tandem. That was a great set of passes that led to Macy turning the corner and being able to score. When [Emma] Torres is on the ball, she has a ton of talent and is special to watch. She still has a lot to learn about defending and college soccer in general. She just turned 18 last week, so we have a lot of patience and grace for her. We're thrilled a player that talented is a part of our future."

UP NEXT:
After playing five matches through the season's first three weeks, Tech will take a much-needed weekend off before heading back on the road to play New Mexico State one week from tonight (Sept. 4). First touch from Las Cruces is set for 8 p.m. (CT)/7 p.m. (MT).