ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – No. 17 Texas Tech parlayed a pair of second half goals into a 2-0 win over UC Santa Barbara at the Jack in the Box Classic at the University of New Mexico on Sunday. The loss ended the Gauchos five-game winning streak.
In the 51st-minute Janine Beckie collected an errant clearance and, with a strong wind to her back, unleashed a shot from 35-yards out. UCSB goalkeeper Beth Ritter, who had posted five consecutive shutouts entering the match, jumped to make the catch but the ball slipped through her hands and rolled into the net giving the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead.
At the 63:45 mark, when Alli Murphy sent a free kick from 50 yards out, again with a powerful wind in her favor, and the ball bounced over Ritter’s leaping attempt at a stop for a bizarre goal.
Texas Tech had a penalty kick in the first half, but Caity Heap’s attempt was blocked by Ritter.
The Gauchos had their most dangerous threat early in the first half when a shot by Indiana Mead hit the crossbar. In all, Santa Barbara was held to six shots overall, two by Mead, and three on goal, both by Mead. Ritter finished with four saves.
UCSB falls to 6-3-1 while the Red Raiders improve to 9-1-0.
The Gauchos will return home on Sunday, Sept. 29 to host 14th-ranked Denver in an early match that will kick-off at 11:00 a.m.
