No. 3 Texas Tech women’s soccer will focus on defense inside the box against No. 7 University of Colorado Boulder at 8 p.m. Thursday in Boulder, Colorado.
Tech head coach Tom Stone said the team needs to be prepared to go up against Colorado inside the box because of the Buffaloes’ poise in that area.
“They (Colorado) serve the box the whole game,” Stone said. “They’re going to make you be good box defenders.”
The box refers to an 18-by-44-foot area in front of each goal, as outlined in the NCAA soccer rule book.
All five of the goals Tech has given up during conference play were scored from inside the box, according to game footage from the Big 12 YouTube channel.
Twelve of the 14 goals Colorado scored during conference play were scored from inside the box, according to game footage from the Big 12 YouTube channel.
“They’re going to make your goalkeeper be strong in the air,” Stone said.
Both goals Tech allowed against Arizona State University on Thursday were near the top of the goal, requiring senior goalkeeper Faith Nyguen to jump in order to save the ball.
Tech senior goalkeeper Faith Nyguen allowed nine goals across the 16 games that have been played.
Colorado is 5-1-2 in conference play. Its single loss came from then-No. 20 Baylor University. Tech beat Baylor 1-0 on Sept. 19 and is undefeated in conference play.
Following its game against Colorado, Tech will return home for a game against Kansas State University at 1 p.m. Sunday at the John Walker Soccer Complex.