No. 12 Texas Tech Soccer Sweeps Arizona Trip, Shuts Out Wildcats to Stay Atop Big 12
Behind goals from Raleigh Greason (3) and Taylor Zdrojewski (13), No. 12 Texas Tech capped off a tough road swing with a full-team effort type 2–0 victory over Arizona on Sunday. The win followed the team’s dramatic late game winner over Arizona State 3-2 on Thursday, helping them sweep the weekend and stay atop the Big 12 standings.
“It was a grind,” head coach Tom Stone said of the team’s Arizona double. “The Big 12 on the road, it took every bit of most of our roster to get through both games. After giving up the lead on Thursday and getting it back at the end, we were pretty emotionally and physically drained. Our sports performance team did an unbelievable job getting everybody ready.”
Texas Tech Stat Leaders
Raleigh Greason – 5 shots, 1 shot on goal, 1 goal
Taylor Zdrojewski – 1 shot, 1 shot on goal, 1 goal
Peyton Parsons – 1 shot, 1 shot on goal, 1 assist
Macy Blackburn – 1 assist
Emilie McCartney – 1 assist
Faith Nguyen – 0 goals allowed, 3 saves
How It Happened
The Red Raiders once again threw the first punch. This time from freshman Raleigh Greason who unleashed a right-footed deep shot that was a near mirror image of her goal two games ago from the opposite side of the field with her left. Greason said after the game she has continued to work on those exact shots in practice with both feet and that her teammates have continued to encourage her to take those chances. She did just that today as shooter’s shoot and the freshman finished with a team lead of five shots in the contest, including her goal to put Tech up 1-0 less than 10 minutes in.
“Raleigh doesn’t score the run-of-the-mill goals; she just scores bangers,” Stone said. “So we were happy for her, and what a great way to start the game for us. To get that goal and get moving forward on these guys.”
Tech doubled its advantage in the 31st minute thanks to a perfectly built sequence that started in the back. Centerback Emilie McCartney played a pass through the Arizona midfield to Macy Blackburn, who shook free up the right flank and sent a pinpoint ball to Taylor Zdrojewski for the finish — her 13th goal of the season and 23rd of her career. The assist was Blackburn’s 11th of the year, 44th of her career, and her 10th career assist to Zdrojewski.
“It is fun to watch that relationship because Macy knows very clearly what kind of ball Z needs — to which foot she gets her in — it’s all calculated,” Stone said. “Macy’s very calculated. And Z also knows Macy can get me this. She’s like the quarterback — if you are open, she’ll reward you. And Z has made a meal out of that several times.”
The two goals set the tone but it was the defense that shut the door. Even with one of the more potent offensive attacks in recent memory, this program is built on defense so after giving up two on Thursday – they wanted the shutout.
“Obviously, we’ve got one of the best keepers in the country on our team,” Stone said of Faith Nguyen. “So, give the back line and the holding mids credit. They were under some pressure and they bent a little bit, never broke. So, getting the shutout was important. It wasn’t like us to give that up [two on Thursday] and we talked about getting that shutout today.”
That defensive unit led by the backline of Blackburn, Kylie Bahr, Eleanor Hays and McCartney, anchored the clean sheet in front of Faith Nguyen who made three saves in her eighth shutout of the season. Stone was quick to praise McCartney specifically as she continues to make the dangerous moments look like light work in her first season with Tech as a transfer from Miami.
“One of the most solid performances this season has been by Emilie McCartney,” Stone said. “She’s just become a rock — 1v1 defender, good in the air, tremendous passer and calm as an ocean breeze. She just doesn’t get rattled. Watching her and Elle [Eleanor Hays] grow their relationship together has been really fun to watch.”
Next Up: At No.9/21 Colorado 10/23
Texas Tech caps off their three-game road stand with a primetime, Big 12 title and NCAA tournament implication, matchup with a Top 25 Colorado on Thursday. The two played to a 1-1 draw in 2024 and are fighting for similar top seeding lines in the NCAA Tournament this year. First touch scheduled for 8pm CT to be streamed on ESPN+.
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