Doug Boyer prepares to contest the Texas Tech clear.

AUSTIN, TX -- The Longhorns saw red descending on Whitaker Fields both Friday evening and midday Saturday, as the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Illinois State Redbirds took their best shots against UT.

Texas Tech fared the better of the two visitors, giving the Horns an uncomfortably close challenge. The Longhorns only led 4-1 at the half, and without a few of the ten total saves by goalie Towers Wilen, the score could have been closer. Head coach Noah Fink really gave the team a piece of his mind during the halftime break, delivering a message to his players to look for their teammates on offense and communicate on defense rather than trying to win the game all by themselves.

The Horns seemed to respond in the third quarter, building a 9-3 lead, but eventually let the Red Raiders within a final score of 10-7. Evans Swann had a strong performance with five goals, Tyler Nix scored two and had two assists, and Alex Kroviak provided a goal and three assists. On the downside, Texas players compiled a total of thirteen minutes in the penalty box. "We absolutely cannot give them so many extra man opportunities," said Fink. "I would say they possessed the ball for two-thirds of the game."

After a shaky showing on Friday, the Longhorns came out and took it to Illinois State on Saturday, souring the Redbirds' trip south with a 14-2 victory. Nix was stellar, scoring six goals, four of those coming from Swann. Doug Boyer contributed two goals and two assists and Texas seemed to heed Fink's advice from the day before and share the ball, while staying out of the penalty box for all but three minutes. Six other Horns had a goal apiece and every player logged minutes. Fink said of the shellacking, "It's great to see us bounce back like this after a weak game. Hopefully we can carry this momentum through our divisional schedule and spring break road trip."

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by Aaron Motsinger