By virtue of tonight’s shutout victory, Texas Tech (7-0-2, 1-0-0) is now unbeaten in its last 16 matches. The 16 match unbeaten streak ties the all-time program record set back in 2013.
With the multiple goal performance, Kerr has now found of the back of the net eight times in her first season as a Red Raider. The goals tonight were her 19th and 20th career strikes.
As she has done her entire career, White held it down in net, recording three saves in her 38th career victory. With the three saves tonight, White has now recorded 213 saves in her career and is now tied for fifth all-time on the Red Raiders saves list with Victoria Esson. The Rockwall native’s goals-against-average now sits at a paltry 0.81 for her career and 0.44 for the season.
This season the Red Raiders are now outscoring opponents 27-4 overall and 24-2 at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
Entering the match, outscoring teams 28-8, Houston (6-2-1, 0-1-0 Big 12) allowed a season-high three goals.
Like they have the entire season, Tech got off to a strong start on Thursday, scoring the matches first goal just six seconds in the 13th minute when captain Hannah Anderson found a streaking Kylie Bahr up the left side.
Bahr made a strong run and swung a perfect low cross that found a wide-open Kerr. Deep in the six-yard box, Kerr ripped a right-footed shot past a diving Olivia Dietrich.
Midway through the 17th minute, Tech nearly took a 2-0 lead when Macy Blackburn took a perfect flick from Sam Courtwright and directed a strong header that Dietrich was able to keep out of the net.
The 13th minute goal and the chance by Blackburn were really the only strong scoring chances by either side as the match went to the break with the Red Raiders in front 1-0.
Just over seven minute into the second half, Tech quickly doubled its lead, when a deflected cross from Elise Anderson bounced to a wide open Peyton Parsons. The reserve dropped a perfect pass to senior Jillian Martinez who ripped a left-footed shot from 30 yards out that fell into the left-hand side of the net.
The goal was Martinez’s second goal of the season.
Armed with a two goal lead, Tech continued to push forward in search of the knockout punch.
In the 82nd minute, Tech found the ever-important third goal when Ashleigh Williams flicked a perfect ball toward Kerr. With nothing but space, Kerr raced toward the goal and ripped a low shot past Dietrich and into the left-corner of the net.
As previously mentioned with the victory, Tech extended its unbeaten streak to 16 consecutive matches and improved to 7-0-2. It’s the best unbeaten nine match start since the Red Raiders start 9-0 en route to a Sweet Sixteen berth in 2014.
Entering the weekend with 32 assists (4.0-per-game), Tech recorded another four helpers to bring their season total to 36.
Tech outshot the Cougars, 15-8 on Thursday night and have now outshot opponents 145-63 this season.
HC TOM STONE:
“It wasn’t our best performance to be honest. The crowd was unbelievable, like unhinged. They were so fun. I think even in our own house, we were a little bit wired for the opener and a little over the top with our emotions, so we didn’t start off that well. But then we settled into a nice rhythm, and the crowd continued to push us forward. It was the best crowd of the year, it was amazing. And then we got the first goal which really put them on their heels, but then credit Houston, they can move the ball. They made us chase it quite a bit and I felt like we turned it over too much and gave them more possessions than we normally have been giving teams, because our possession has been better than it was tonight. So that kept Houston in the game. We continued to turn it over, they continue dto move the ball, and at half and we had to tell the team ‘hey, we’re ahead’. Why are you acting like we’re not ahead? They’re like, well, we keep giving the ball over. We were like true, but we’re ahead, don’t forget we’re leading. There’s a way to behave when you’re leading and it involves the clock, it involves ball security, it involves being patient. And we weren’t any of those things even with a one goal lead. So, Jill’s goal, which was spectacular, really changed the game. Now they had to come out and get after us and we had the comfort of knowing that we have two goal lead. Jill’s goal really turned the game for us.”
GK MADISON WHITE:
On the Red Raiders’ ability to grind out results:
“I think as long as I’ve been at Tech, I’ve been on a lot of great teams. But, I don’t know how many teams I’ve been on that have been able to win 3-0 and not played well. Not that we didn’t play well, but that was not our best game. You’re on a team that’s still dominating another team and is not playing their best, I think that’s really special. Especially when we do play our best and we’re beating teams as we have before. I mean, it’s great. It’s really great.”
On the team’s confidence going forward:
“We feel really confident. Our defense has been on lockdown, and our offense has been finishing all their chances. Even though we had some that were left on the table, we’re still finishing and sometimes its only one goal that you need. I think we’re feeling really good and really confident going into this next weekend.”
UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders will put their unbeaten record on the line next Thursday night when they head to Austin for a massive clash at the University of Texas. First kick from Austin is set for 7 p.m.
