TTU Soccer Starts 2-2 to Open Up Big 12 Play
After starting their season 7-1-1, the TTU soccer team has opened Big 12 Play. Thus far, the team has played Oklahoma, Kansas State, Baylor, and UT. The team has fared well in all four as they will look to continue the Big 12 Conference in a dominant fashion with a goal of not only winning the conference but a shot at a national title.
Oklahoma
First Half
The TTU soccer team opened up their Big 12 play against the Oklahoma Sooners in their conference opener. The Sooners headed into the contest with a 4-4-1 and record and had been having a rough season so far. The game was played in Lubbock, Texas, at John Walker Soccer Complex and had 1318 fans in attendance.
The game kicked off with a slow first seven minutes, then Macy Schultz would take over. After driving down the field, she would force her way towards the goal and get the Lady Raider’s first point of the game. Then only three minutes later, Kirsten Davis would join the party. In a blocked pass, she would recover the ball and kick it in for their second point of the game.
Shortly after, at the 20-minute mark, Cassie Hiatt made an impressive pass to Davis. Davis would then beat a defender one-on-one to get in position to score to go up 3-0 in the contest. Fast-forward to the 33rd minute of the game. Davis would do it again and go up to take the score to 4-0 before heading into the break.
Second Half
The Red Raiders headed into the second half with a 4-0 lead after an absolutely dominant first half. The Lady Raiders would continue their dominance in the second half. Their next goal would come courtesy of Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week Hannah Anderson, who would punch it in to go up 5-0. Following Anderson’s goal, Ashleigh Williams would get her one as well. From deep inside the Sooner’s side of the field, Williams would punch it in to take the score to 6-0.
The last score of the night came from freshman Hailey Palmer who capitalized on a missed shot from Williams to make her first collegiate goal.
Capping off the game, the Red Raiders would finish a shutout and dominate night 7-0 against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Kansas State
The TTU Soccer team opener their second Big 12 Conference game against the Kansas State Wildcats at home at John Walker Soccer Complex in Lubbock, Texas. Kansas State headed into the game with a .500 record at 5-5, but the Lady Raiders would quickly change that.
The Red Raiders would get off to a hot start only six minutes into the competition from Kirsten Davis. After one of the best games in her career, Davis would not look to slow down. Ashleigh Williams would get a piece of that pie by scoring a goal of her own from 18-yards away. Only a freshman, Williams has made an immediate impact on the team and will only improve as the season progresses.
With both goals coming in the first half, Texas Tech would host another shutout to win 2-0. They would move onto 9-1-1 on the season and look towards their next game against the Baylor Bears.
Baylor
Heading into the Red Raider’s third conference game of the season, the team would travel to Waco, Texas, at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field to take on the Baylor Bears. In a close game between the two, it would be hard-fought with the Red Raiders edged out in the final minutes.
Baylor would get started early in the 11th minute in the contest to go up 1-0, which would be the quickest goal scored on the Red Raiders this season. Before the first half ended, Lady Raider Kirsten Davis would take the ball from a Baylor defender and punch it home. This would make the score 1-1 heading into the break and put Davis as second in the Red Raider’s all-time scorers.
After trailing for most of the first half, Texas Tech would come out ready to take care of business. This time, Charlotte Teeter would step up after having a goal taken would get a chance at a penalty kick that Teeter would capitalize on. Fast-forward to the 62nd minute; the Bears would tie it up.
Unfortunately, Texas Tech would not get the ball back into the goal, and Baylor, in the 79th minute, would take advantage to score again. This would be the game’s final goal as the Red Raiders would drop their first Big 12 conference game.
UT
With TTU Soccer beginning and now underway in Big 12 play, the team would continue their road trip heading to Austin, Texas. Playing at Mike A. Myers Soccer Field, the team would take on the Texas Longhorns in a very defensive game.
While the team would have many chances to get points on the board, unfortunately, they could never capitalize on opportunities. The Longhorns would outshoot the Red Raiders by a narrow margin of 12-10 and eventually win the game 1-0. The only shot of the game would come in the first half and be a slow game after.
After dropping the game, TTU will now be on a two-game losing streak and will look to bounce back.
Overall on TTU Soccer Big 12 Play
Overall, in Texas Tech Soccer’s first four Big 12 Conference games, the Lady Raiders would go 2-2. To make their overall to 9-3-1 on the season. While having one of the best seasons in school history, the Lady Raiders will look to bounce back after losing two straight. In their next two games, the team will head back home to take on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. The game is slated for Thursday, October 7th at 7 pm CT in Lubbock, Texas, at John Walker Soccer Complex.
Tickets for the game are still available at TexasTech.com, and there is no better time to cheer on the Lady Raiders as they will look to bounce back. You can also watch the game on ESPN+ to watch your Texas Tech Lady Raiders.
For Texas Tech Soccers entire schedule click here!
For more Texas Tech soccer check out their beginning of September results.
Story by Campus Live Employee Trinity Porter