No. 25 Texas Tech Blazes To 4-0 Win on Road At San Diego State in Season Opener

No. 25 Texas Tech set the tone early and didn’t look back in their season opening 4-0 win over San Diego State on the road Thursday night. The Red Raiders scored two goals in the first seven minutes of play and saw four players find the back of the net off seven assists spread across five players.

“The starting 11 came out absolutely on fire, pressing, stealing the ball, taking the action at them, getting down the flanks, and before anybody watching the game could have realized how good San Diego State was – we were up two zero,” said Texas Tech head coach Tom Stone following the game. “And that made it harder for them, because now they’re chasing the game instead of just playing the game. So the two goal outburst in the opening bit really was the reason. We got on top of them and stayed there.”

Stat Leaders

Taylor Zdrojewski – 3 shots, 2 SOG, 1 G, 1 A, 58 minutes

Kaitlyn Giametta – 1 shot, 1 SOG, 1 G, 1 A, 20 minutes

Raleigh Greason – 3 shots, 2 SOG, 1 G, 40 minutes

Sam Courtwright – 1 shot, 1 SOG, 1 G

Macy Blackburn – 1 shot, 3 assists, 69 minutes

Faith Nguyen – 0 goals allowed, 3 saves, 90 minutes

How It Happened

Before you could even throw your tortillas () Texas Tech had a two-nil lead in this after the barrage of attacks Stone mentioned in the opening led to two goals from Kaitlyn Giametta and Sam Courtwright.

The first from Giametta originated off a free kick from mid-field that the magician that is Macy Blackburn lofted perfectly to the head of Taylor Zdrojewski just at the top of the box. From there Z made the difficult look rather easy with a flick down to Giametta who squeezed a shot past the SDSU keeper for the first goal of the game.

Next it was time for Courtwright to make it known to anyone that was still unaware: SHE’S BAAAACK! The 2023 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and All-American, who missed all of last season injured, found herself unmarked with space to run up on a drop off from Giametta just inside the 18. A SDSU defender tried to recover but – GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT – it was too late and Texas Tech was up 2-0 less than six minutes into the match.

SDSU settled in for a bit from there and had a few dangerous build ups themselves thwarted by the backline of Tech. Senior center back Molly Scurcenski was the only Tech field player to log a full 90 in this with newcomer and Miami centerback transfer Emilie McCartney being second on the team in minutes played in the field with 81. A partnership that will continue to sharpen as the season progresses handled their moments well.

Behind them in goal, senior Faith Nguyen notched three saves and had a handful of important wins at the point of attack in this including one early where she soared through traffic to moss a few SDSU defenders and grab a corner attempt out of the air. It was a homecoming for Nguyen that grew up less than 90 miles from the Aztecs stadium.

“Funny enough my freshman year at UCLA, our very first game was San Diego State,” a giddy Nguyen said in an interview I had with her on Seeing Scarlet earlier in the week. “I kind of feel like this is a little bit of a full circle moment….I was talking to the team, I’m gonna need every single person’s ticket possible because I have so many people just coming to this game to support us.”

Hopefully the contingent of Nguyen family and friends in attendance had lots of popcorn on hand because the Red Raiders were not done scoring just yet. With 15 minutes left to play in the first half, the terrifying duo that is Blackburn and Zdrojewski cooked up a beaut off a corner and sent Tech to halftime with a commanding 3-0 lead.

That marked Blackburn’s third assist in as many goals with all three coming in different ways: free kick, throw in, corner. In case anyone was still sleeping, the two-time All-American showed everyone why she was recently named the No. 3 overall player in the country by Top Drawer Soccer.

“Macy is known for her service, for sure, but she can hurt you on a lot of different facets of that service,” said Coach Stone. “She really showed her versatility today. Was dominant down the flank. If you’re an attacking player on this team, you want to play with Macy Blackburn.”

The second half was perhaps more what Stone expected coming into a battle with a physical experienced SDSU team on the road as the Aztecs held Tech off the scoreboard for the first 25 minutes of the half. That was until the true freshman Raleigh Greason went full menace mode showing the control, strength and clinical approach of a fifth-year vet for her first collegiate goal. Credit a beautiful ball over the top from Millie Elwood that sprung the speedy Greason down the right side.

“It’s not just a rookie scoring her first goal in the first game, it’s scoring a worldy in her first game,” said Coach Stone. “I thought she was going to shoot it left footed. Got it over to her right foot. Had a lot of options of where to put it, and she just, you know, put it in the far upper corner. It was a wonderful moment at the end of the game. It definitely put the game away. Our team’s reaction was priceless. They went bonkers. And that’s a that’s a great start for the rook play for the win tonight.”

In total 21 players saw the field for Tech with 17 of those getting at least 20 minutes of run. Depth and versatility is building into a strength for this team, evident by four different goal scorers in both the exhibition win last week and season opener on Thursday. The team also totaled 7 assists on their four goals versus SDSU, from five different players (Blackburn 3, Japić 1, Giametta 1, Elwood 1, Zdrojewski 1.)

“They’re called game changers for a reason,” said Coach Stone. “If you don’t change the game or maintain the level, then it’s a problem. And I thought everybody that came into the game did that, some gave us a new wrinkle. And I think, as far as depth goes, that was a big weapon in this game today. When we went to the bench, our level didn’t drop, and in many cases, it actually went up. So we’re thankful for that.”

What’s Next: Home Opener Sunday

Texas Tech returns to Lubbock for their first game at John Walker, or Ft. Walker as it’s affectionately known, this season. They will take on Youngstown State at 7 PM in a rare Sunday night under the lights affair. It’s also Back to School night with the first 250 fans getting a free schedule magnet and those that donate two school supplies at the gate with be entered for a chance to win an iPad!

“Just seeing this team come live is probably one of the most fun things you’ll ever watch,” said senior goal keeper Faith Nguyen “This team is absolutely so fun to watch and the donating school supplies. It’s for a good cause and we’d love to see your face.”

Don’t let Nguyen down Red Raiders. BE THERE, BE LOUD!

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