No. 19 Texas Tech women’s soccer tops Denver to close preseason

DENVER, Colo. (Via Texas Tech University) – The No. 19 Texas Tech soccer team rounded out the quick preseason portion of the schedule with a 2-0 victory over Denver on Saturday night at CIBER Field.

The two Red Raider goals were fueled by freshman forward Jade King, who tallied six total shots, with her both of her shots on goal finding the back of the net.

It didn’t take long for the Red Raiders to get on the board, as King picked off a pass in the seventh minute and beat the goalkeeper one-on-one to give Tech an early 1-0 lead. A few minutes later, King struck again, this time off a feed from redshirt freshman midfielder Mary Heiberger from just inside midfield in the 12th minute. King would have another opportunity in the 28th minute, but her shot sailed just wide of the net.

At the half, the Red Raiders held a 2-0 lead over the Pioneers after registering four shots, while Lauren Watson picked up a save on the other side of the pitch.

+NCAA Women’s Soccer Commitment Announcements: August 2016

Tech stayed on the attack early in the second half, as sophomore forward Gwennie Puente sent shots just wide and high of the goal in the 52nd and 60th minutes, respectively. In the 63rd minute, King checked back into the game and found herself in the middle of a couple more scoring situations, but was unable to get the two shots on goal.

Junior forward Haleigh Fancher (76′) and King (78′) kept the pressure on the Pioneer’s side of the field, as the duo fired shots at the goal that traveled just wide of the net. At the other end of the pitch, senior goalkeeper Lauren Watson recorded two saves, one in each half of play on Saturday night.

Tech finished with a total of 10 shots, after putting up six in the second half. The Pioneers were held to just six shots in the match.

The Red Raiders return to Lubbock for one last week of preseason preparation before the 2016 season gets underway with a seven-match home stand, beginning Friday, Aug. 19, against New Mexico at 7 p.m. at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

Tech returns 17 letterwinners and seven starters from the 2015 Big 12 Champion squad, including seniors Lauren Watson, Meagan McCullough and Maddy Crabtree. Friday will also mark the start of the 10th season under head coach Tom Stone, who led Texas Tech to the second round of the NCAA Championship for the fourth-straight season in 2015.