Aug. 27, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas -

Complete Release in PDF Format

STARTING OFF...
After opening its season against Lamar last weekend, the Texas Tech soccer team begins Big 12 Conference play Fri., Aug. 29, at home against Colorado before rejoining its non-conference slate for a Sunday match at Texas-San Antonio.

SCOUTING COLORADO
The Buffaloes enter Friday's contest sitting at 0-1-1 on the season, having tied Florida, 1-1, in its their season opener before falling to Denver, 1-0, last Sunday. The Red Raiders broke an eight-match losing streak to the Buffaloes last season as Tech prevailed, 1-0, in Boulder to open the conference season. Colorado returns nine starters off a 2007 squad that finished 5-5 in the Big 12 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship. Forward Nikki Marshall is the Buffs' leading returning scorer as the junior connected on nine goals last season. Colorado is led by Bill Hempen, who enters his ninth season as the Buffs' head coach with a record of 79-51-19.

SCOUTING UTSA
The Roadrunners opened their 2008 season in Houston defeating the University of Houston, 1-0, in double overtime before falling to Rice, 5-1, last Sunday. The Red Raiders defeated UTSA, 4-1, last season in Lubbock in only the second meeting between the two schools. The Roadrunners return nine letterwinners, all of them starters, off last season's squad that finished 9-9-2 overall and finished second in the Southland Conference. UTSA is led by third-year head coach Steve Ballard, who is 17-18-4 in his two seasons with the Roadrunners.

KEEP AN EYE ON...JUNIOR Zhaleh Rezaie
Entering her third season at Tech, forward Zhaleh Rezaie added her ninth career goal last Friday as it was also the first in the history of the John Walker Soccer Complex. Rezaie's six shot attempts against Lamar moved her into a tie for seventh all-time with Amy Rutstein on the school's career list. Rezaie also provided her third career assist to Brittney Harrison late in the match.

GOOD FRIENDS HEMPEN AND STONE REUNITE
Long-time friends and coaching foes Bill Hempen and Tom Stone will be reunited in Friday's match. Hempen, a groomsman in Stone's wedding, will be looking to even the all-time series after Tech defeated Colorado, 1-0, last season in the duo's first match-up on the collegiate scene. Stone also serves as Godfather to Hampen's daughter, Emma.

THE JOHN WALKER SOCCER COMPLEX
Tech's newest facility on campus, the John Walker Soccer Complex, officially opened in Tech's season-opening 4-0 victory over Lamar. Named after Tech alum and donor John B. Walker, the stadium is not expected to be completed until Sept. 12, when the Red Raiders face Arizona. Complete with seating for around 1,400 fans, an awning and a pressbox, the John Walker Soccer Complex will quickly become one of the nicest soccer facilities in the country. Prior to the 2009 season, the Red Raiders will move into a new field house that will be equiped with state-of-the-art locker rooms, coaches' offices, a players' lounge and athletic training facilities. The John Walker Soccer Complex is located on 10th Street off the Texas Tech Parkway, which is west of University Medical Center.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Raiders will travel to Murfresboro, Tenn., next weekend to battle Middle Tennessee State and Alabama A&M in the Middle Tennessee Classic before returning home for a three-match homestand beginning Sept. 12 against Arizona, Sept. 14 versus Northwestern State and Sept. 18 against Oral Roberts.

TECH IN CONFERENCE OPENERS
The Red Raiders are 3-10 all-time in conference openers and 1-4 in openers at home. Tech defeated Colorado last year in its conference opener in Boulder. The last time the Red Raiders won a home conference opener was in 1996 also against the Buffaloes.

HARRISON OPENS SEASON WITH BIG GAME
Red Raider junior defender Brittney Harrison continues to show why she is one of the top players in the country. The Plano, Texas, native connected on two goals in last Friday's season opener against Lamar, with both coming within less than a two minute stretch. Harrison now has 14 goals over her Tech career, which is tied for seventh on the school's all-time list.

RINCON AMONG CAREER LEADERS
Senior goalkeeper Tina Rincon enters her final season chasing several records on the school's all-time career chart. Rincon is currently third on the career saves list with 217, trailing both Megan Knauss (266) and Brittney Peese (329). Her nine career shutouts only trails Stephanie Carter (11) and Peese (10.5).

LYTLE HAS STRONG RETURN TO THE FIELD
In her first match of her Tech career, redshirt freshman Taylor Lytle showed little sign of rust after missing the 2007 campaign following knee surgery. The Las Cruces, New Mexico, native quickly provided the assist on the match's opening goal and played a total of 64 minutes against Lamar. A NSCAA All-American in high school, Lytle also made her first career start against the Cardinals.

RED RAIDERS SELECTED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON CONFERENCE POLL
If the Texas Tech soccer team is going to finish in the top half of the Big 12 for the second-consecutive season, it will once again have to defy the odds as the Red Raiders were selected to finish seventh among the league's 11 participating schools in a preseason poll of conference coaches. The Red Raiders were predicted to finish 11th in 2007 before finishing fifth and advancing to the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 1999. Texas led the poll with 94 points, while Texas A&M and Missouri completed the top three with 93 and 77 points, respectively.

RINCON, SIMS NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS
Prior to the season, the Red Raiders voted seniors Shannon Sims and Tina Rincon to serve as the team's captains. Sims, a midfielder from Plano, Texas, started all 17 matches last season, while Rincon added to her already impressive career numbers, adding 97 saves and five shutouts in 2007. Rincon is third all-time in career saves and shutouts with 217 and eight, respectively.

MATCH PROMOTIONS
Friday's match will be Tech Camper Reunion Night as all campers wearing their camp shirt along with a parent will both receive free admission into the match. All campers are encouraged to arrive at the stadium at 6 p.m. for pregame activities. For any questions, please contact Garrett Tressler in the Texas Tech External Operations office at (806) 742-1195.