Dec. 14, 2010

By Jeremiah Washington, Texas Tech Athletics Communications

"Bittersweet" would be the word Texas Tech head soccer coach Tom Stone would use to sum up the 2010 season, which would be the Red Raiders most successful season for Texas Tech since 1996. The Red Raiders finished with an overall record of 11-8-1 and were close to being chosen for the NCAA tournament, but were cut short of qualifying for the 64-team selection.

"It is bitter because after being so close and then not being selected to play in the postseason," Stone said. "We had so many players out of the line up at the end of the season that we were barely hanging on but still put ourselves into position to get in. Not getting in will leave a bad taste in our mouths all off season." The Red Raiders lost six key starters during play this season, which included junior standout Taylor Lytle.

Lytle was named a captain for the 2010 season and completed five assists which brings her career assists total to 24. Lytle's assists number is just two shy of tying the school record set by former Red Raider Kristy Frantz, who played for Texas Tech in 1996-1999 and set the school record at 26 assists.

Along with Lytle, starters Whitney Sharpe and Haley Haagsma were out for lengthy periods of time for the Red Raiders, which allowed for other players to step up and make a difference. One player who contributed in a big way is Big 12 Rookie of the Year winner, Jessica Fuston.

In her first season for the Red Raiders, Fuston made sure her presence was known. For the season Fuston raked in 24 points, 11 goals, two assists, 53 shots and 32 shots-on-goal with a .604 shots-on-goal percentage. She received Big 12 honors including Big 12 Rookie of the Year, All-Big 12 second team, and Big 12 All-Newcomer team. Fuston was also the first Red Raider to win one of the conference's top awards when she was named Big 12 Rookie of the Year.

Stone is just as proud of the rest of the team, for stepping up, and contributing in a big way for the Red Raiders success on the field.

"The overall impact of our second-full recruiting class was critical to the development of our program," said Stone.

The Red Raiders opened up their season against long time rival TCU with a dominating win, shutting out the Horned Frogs 3-0. This was one of many highlights of the season for the four-year head coach.

"I think opening night was very special," Stone said. "TCU has always been a good rival."

TCU was not the only team the Red Raiders shutout this season. Texas Tech started the season 5-0, which was the best start in school history against Division I opponents. Even more satisfying were all five wins were shutouts, which is the first time in the program's history that a Tech team began a season with five-consecutive shutouts. The Red Raiders went on to shutout 10 teams over the course of 20 games this season, a school record as well. The previous record was set at eight, which happened during the 1994-1995 season.

Fans also came out in flocks to watch the Red Raiders take on their opponents. Texas Tech averaged 1,192 fans at matches this season including a season high of 1,643 in attendance against Colorado. Fan support definitely helps motivate the team, and even Stone will admit that seeing so many fans come out was almost an "eery" feeling.

"It definitely pushed us to a higher level," Stone stated. "I think it intimidated our opponents at times. Normally in other places you play in front of 300-400 people, so to see that many fans can kind of be an eery thing for the other team. Playing in that loud and rowdy atmosphere definitely helped on Friday nights." Although the Red Raiders were not selected for the NCAA Championship, this was a remarkable and exciting season for Texas Tech, a season which is one to remember and also showed great promise for the future.

"Since 2007 the program has improved each year," Stone said. Two-thousand and seven was better than 2006, 2008 was better than 2007. In 2009 we hit .500, and in 2010 we had the first winning season in 14 years."

According to Stone, there may be a bitter taste in their mouths during off season, but there are many reasons why this season was so sweet.

"It was sweet for so many reasons, where the program improved and individual players were recognized," said Stone. "It was sweet also because we were on the doorstep of the NCAA tournament for the first time in history."

With the Red Raiders now being hungrier than ever before, next year is bound to be an even more sweet and enticing season for Texas Tech soccer.