Stone, Red Raider Soccer Open Practice
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Red Raiders are coming off a 2018 campaign during which they racked up 14 wins – the most for the program since securing its first-ever Big 12 Championship in 2015. Tech tallied five conference wins for the first time since 2014 while knocking off a program-record four ranked opponents.
This year, the squad will seek to replace six players it lost to graduation from last season – three of whom are now playing professionally overseas. Despite a talented group departing, Tech will welcome 10 newcomers to the program, in addition to the return of midfielder Jordie Harr and defender Margaret Begley from injury.
The Red Raiders also return the two team leaders in goals, assist, points and shots. Kirsten Davis leads the way up top for Tech, coming back for her junior season. The Second Team All-Midwest Region racked up 21 points in 2018 — good for fourth in the conference last season and second among players returning this fall. Davis netted seven goals to go with seven more assists while leading the team in shots with 68. Jade King, the other forward that will start up top, ripped 63. Nearly half of those — 30 to be exact — were on net for the second-most in the conference and most among returning players. Eight found the back of the net.
New Players:
The new class is diverse, comprised of six high school signees — two of which enrolled early — in addition to two youth internationals and two transfers. Hannah Anderson (Frisco, Texas) and Macy Schultz (Timnath, Colo.) arrived on campus in January and played in the spring. They were joined in their high school signing class by: Haley Smith (Flower Mound, Texas), Marisa Weichel (Papillion, Neb.), Madison White (Rockwell, Texas) and Taya Lopez (Las Cruces, N.M.). Two youth internationals will grab their passports and come to the States: Nicole Mettam (New Zealand) and Penelope Mulenga (Canada). The collegiate experience comes from Luana Munoz (Tyler JC) and Amanda Porter (Arizona).
Tech’s 2019 campaign will begin as usual with an exhibition trip to Denver, which is set for Aug. 17. The Red Raiders will turn around and hit the road the following week for a two-game trip to San Diego State (Aug. 22) and New Mexico (Aug. 25). Tech fans’ first chance to see the squad in action at home will be Aug. 30 when the Red Raiders return for a Friday night showdown with Oral Roberts.
—TECH—