Texas Tech Advances in NCAA Tournament Behind Parsons’ Strike & Zdrojewski's Record-Tying Winner
After the final seconds ran off and Texas Tech celebrated their 2-1 opening round NCAA Tournament win over UTSA, Tom Stone walked over to the crowd two hands up clapping and saluting the fans. His players sprayed water on each other in celebration and soaked in the moment. Not every program gets this. But November at John Walker has a way of turning postseason games into memories that last far beyond the scoreboard.
“Having been here 19 years, I’ve seen this crowd grow to the point where it is now, and it is just so rewarding,” said Texas Tech head coach Tom Stone. “It’s a big part of the Texas Tech soccer experience. It’s not, you have a great team, you go to the NCAA tournament, you’ve won some Big 12s, you’ve been to the Sweet 16… and by the way, nobody cares. Just not the storyline here. The community loves us and loves the girls. The athletic department has been nothing but generous to us — they give us everything we need to win. And the crowd was just magic. I tell them all the time, you’re going to miss this when you’re gone… you’re going to miss those people cheering for you.”
That atmosphere powered Texas Tech through a tense and history field NCAA Tournament opener, where Peyton Parsons drilled the first goal in the 13th minute, Taylor Zdrojewski buried a late winner, and Macy Blackburn broke the single-season assists record. Zdrojewski’s goal also tied the single-season program record for game-winners, adding to a season already lined with milestones.
Texas Tech out-shot UTSA 20–8, controlled 53% of possession, and leaned on its veteran core to secure a 2–1 win at Walker.
Texas Tech Stat Leaders
Taylor Zdrojewski – 6 shots, 2 shots on goal, 1 goal, 85 minutes
Peyton Parsons – 4 shots, 3 shots on goal, 1 goal, 1 assist, 80 minutes
Macy Blackburn – 3 shots, 2 shots on goal, 1 (record breaking) assist
How It Happened
The first goal came from a play off a short corner sequence — though not exactly the one drawn up on the clipboard.
Parsons admitted afterward she wasn’t even initially expecting it, but Ms. November didn’t hesitate when Blackburn found her with tons of space outside the box for a rocket to put Tech up 1-0 13 minutes in.
“Honestly, I wasn’t really set up for that play, but once Macy got the ball, I knew I had to be — so I quickly moved, and it worked out.”
Coach Stone then revealed the full, chaotic backstory.
The first time Tech tried the set piece, assistant coach Nick Hallam yelled “P!” from the far end of the field and Stone didn’t even know why. He assumed Nick wanted the ball delivered to Parsons, so he told his team to run it the next time. But when it ended up on the right corner Sam Courtwright said “I can’t play that with my left,” so her and Blackburn swapped the roles to tap the corner over to Blackburn who ultimately found Parsons for the goal. .
“As fate would have it,” Stone said looking over at Parsons as he gave the backstory she wasn’t even aware led into her postseason moment. “you score a great goal, and Macy breaks the all-time single-season record.”
Blackburn was already the all-time career leader in assists, a record she set last season and has extended to that out to 46 total. But now she adds the single season record to her name as well notching her 13th and record breaking assist on the Parsons goal to start the game.
“She’s been the most dominant flank player we’ve ever had. She’s the ultra, ultra, uber competitor… and yet as soon as the lights go off, she’s as sweet as the day is long. But when those lights come on? She is a ferocious beast of a soccer player. She’s going to have a great career wherever she decides to play next.”
A Bizarre Equalizer, But No Panic
Despite controlling the match, Tech saw UTSA level it in the 61st minute on a long free kick ball from the goalkeeper that carried in the West Texas wind and dipped into the net over the outstretched hand of Faith Nguyen. The moment was stunning for fans, and UTSA’s Kessler alike who went full surrender cobra in shock after her magical moment, but Texas Tech didn’t blink.
Both Parsons and Zdrojewski said afterward that the belief never wavered. They felt a winner was coming because they had been “hammering the goal” all match. No panic. They simply huddled up, reset and blistered the Roadrunners in goal like they had been for much of the game until the winner came.
In the 76th minute, the breakthrough arrived. Leibel somehow slipped a ball through traffic just at the top of the box to Zdrojewski who fought through defenders to find the tiniest of windows to pounce — ripping home her 16th goal of the season.
“Every forward wants to be a goal scorer… to be able to provide for my team in that instance I want to be that person for my team that we can get the lead and the go-ahead goal. At this time of the year, it’s do or go home.”
It was her seventh game-winner of the season, tying the Texas Tech record with Red Raider great Ashleigh Williams.
“That’s incredible to be in the same category of those players… I really give credit to my team and the opportunities they’re able to put me in. I wish P had the game-winner tonight, but if she can’t have it, then I guess I’ll step up.”
Next Up: NCAA Second Round vs. North Carolina in Forth Worth on Thursday, Time TBD
Tech’s back line held firm down the stretch — Nguyen recorded three saves while the entire back group shut down late chaotic pressure to close out the win. e
But it was the crowd that carried the final minutes.
“There was a lot of emotion out there tonight,” said Stone. “In fact, I don’t really recall a final game at Walker with that many people really upset or happy emotionally, because they knew that was their last game here. Maybe something dramatic happens and we end up back here, but for now, it looks like it’s the last game here.“
That drama could come actually, a lot of which will need to be stirred by their own hands as they head to Fort Worth for rounds two and three next week. Texas Tech will face the defending National Champion North Carolina Tar Heels who knocked out three-seeded Tennessee in their opening round game.
“Once you get past the first round, everybody’s good,” said Stone. The opportunity to do something great in a lot of our hometowns would be excellent… We’re going to put the Red Raider bat signal up in the sky of Fort Worth.”
It’s a familiar foe for Tech, as the two squared off in a 1-0 war of a game won by the Tar Heels in the 2023 NCAA Sweet 16 in Lubbock.
“There’s definitely memories coming back from that game,” said Zdrojewski. “Hopefully that’ll fuel the fire. There’s no better opportunity than to take down the defending national champs.”
Game will be streamed on ESPN+. Game time and ticket information to be announced.
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