{"id":27802,"date":"2025-10-30T13:47:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T13:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/27802\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T13:47:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T13:47:17","slug":"texas-tech-senior-class-that-pressed-play-after-pandemic-pause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/27802\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Tech Senior Class That Pressed Play After Pandemic Pause"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Tom Stone took over as head coach in 2008, Texas Tech soccer wasn\u2019t just struggling \u2013 it was buried. The Red Raiders had won only four total conference games in the six years prior to Stone\u2019s arrival and had never made an NCAA Tournament appearance in the school\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

It took time to build. Brick by brick and culture piece by culture piece. What happened in that time is it\u2019s own story for another day but by 2012, Texas Tech reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time. They even won their opening-round game. From there the Red Raiders became a fixture in the postseason, making their first Sweet 16 in 2014 and missing the tournament only once through 2019.<\/p>\n

Then the world stopped. <\/p>\n

When COVID-19 hit, everything Stone\u2019s program had built \u2013 the chemistry, rhythm and confidence \u2013 was thrown into chaos. The next three seasons came and went without a postseason berth and the program suddenly faced its greatest test yet: rediscovering the identity they had worked so hard to create.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody [around country] came out of COVID the way they went in,\u201d Stone recalled. \u201cTalk about misery. Teams were literally rebuilding their chemistry, rebuilding their character. Everyone got weird during that. Everyone was off balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the Big 12 Conference decided to play he remembered being hopeful that soccer might serve as a sanctuary for his players during that time \u2013 only to realize later how wrong that was. But how could anyone have known?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were all thinking, oh, this will be their escape. This will be their sanctuary for this really weird time in our lives,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd it wasn\u2019t. They should have been with their families and we should have been with ours.\u201d<\/p>\n

When things slowly trickled back to normal, or at least whatever new normal the world became post-Covid. A group of players made their way to campus that would spark this reboot.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen here comes this class right after that,\u201d Stone recalled. \u201cAnd they\u2019re so full of personality and so full of inspiration. And they love soccer so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were no longer inheriting the burgeoning contender they had once committed too as youth players. But they chose to come anyway and help rebuild it. By 2023, alongside seniors still around from the 2019 pre-covid and last NCAA tournament team, their work blossomed into history: an undefeated regular season, highest ranking in school history, the program\u2019s first-ever Big 12 regular-season title and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16. It marked the return of Texas Tech Soccer as a national name.<\/p>\n

A handful of players in that class have years remaining due to redshirt seasons. But of that core, Macy Blackburn, Peyton Parsons, Molly Skurcenski and Kate Leibel, are now in their final season at Tech \u2013 eyeing their third straight NCAA tournament appearance.<\/p>\n

The Players That Make Up The 2025 Graduating Class<\/p>\n

\"\"Macy Blackburn | Shelby Hilliard, RedRaiderSports<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t start any discussion about this class without the all-time leader in assists Macy Blackburn. A two-time All-American and one of the fiercest competitors Coach Stone has said he has ever coached, she undoubtedly has led this reboot in more ways than one.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my gosh, yeah! That\u2019s such a loaded question because I could talk for literally ever,\u201d Blackburn said when asked what her time at Tech has meant to her. \u201cIt was my dream to come here. And the fact that I get have gotten to graduate from here, go to grad school, play five years here and lead this team, like it\u2019s been truly just a dream come true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Peyton Parsons | Shelby Hilliard, Red Raider Sports<\/p>\n

Peyton Parsons, a player Stone describes as \u201cSuper High IQ\u201d whose composure and creativity have been in the middle of some of the best moments of Red Raider soccer in her time here. She was also responsible for sending the team to the Sweet 16 in 2023 after burying the game-winning penalty kick in a PK shootout with Princeton. Cold blooded killer.<\/p>\n

\"\"Molly Skurcenski | Shelby Hilliard, RedRaiderSports<\/p>\n

Molly Skurcenski, the glue. Or as her head coach articulated it: \u201cthe secret sauce to every great team we\u2019ve had since she got here. She has played multiple positions in her career and never asked for the shine even though she has dang near built the spotlight for her teammates herself over the years. <\/p>\n

\"\"Kate Leibel | Photo by Shelby Hilliard, Red Raider Sports<\/p>\n

Kate Leibel, the quiet assassin of the group. Does all the dirty work playing one of the tougher positions in the Texas Tech system at defensive mid. A player fans may not notice in the boxscore but can\u2019t miss when watching the full field action in person. She always shows up. For that reason her teammates have affectionately dubbed her \u201cBig Game Kate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery big game she\u2019s played in,\u201d Stone said, \u201cshe\u2019s absolutely torn it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Faith Nguyen | Shelby Hilliard, Red Raider Sports<\/p>\n

Then came two additions to this group as transfers. The first coming before the start of the 2024 season when Faith Nguyen transferred in from UCLA. Following the program leader in career shutouts Madison White was no easy task but she slipped right in bringing her own style and leadership to the team. Coach Stone called her \u201can inspirational leader\u201d in fact.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho could have replaced Maddie White? Well, Faith Nguyen is who,\u201d he said. \u201cWe would never have guessed that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Chloe Japi\u0107 | Photo by Shelby Hilliard, Red Raider Sports<\/p>\n

And last but certainly not least came Chloe Japi\u0107, a transfer who arrived this past summer from Virginia. Set to be a veteran leader, especially on the defensive end, her season ended early due to injury. Despite that cruel twist of fate she has still managed to leave her mark.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only had her for five games,\u201d Stone said. \u201cShe\u2019s already made an indelible imprint on our culture and our team. Such a sweetheart, a fabulous player and was ready to give us her sixth year before she got hurt. She\u2019s a Red Raider for life.\u201d<\/p>\n

This Story Has Plenty of Ink Left in the Pen<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As this group prepares to lead Texas Tech into its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance \u2014 after the program missed three straight from 2020 to 2022 \u2014 Stone can feel the full circle moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe class is really special,\u201d he said. \u201cGosh, I personally am going to miss them because they\u2019re such great kids, and their families are incredibly inspirational and supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blackburn said that what makes this group so meaningful is not only what they\u2019ve accomplished, but the relationships they\u2019ve built. And most important of all, that the journey together isn\u2019t finished yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese girls have just truly made my time here just one of a kind,\u201d said Blackburn before turning her focus to what\u2019s ahead as the senior captain always does. \u201cI know I\u2019m going to cherish these years for the rest of my life, but I\u2019m trying not to think about the end too much because I know we\u2019re going to have a long season left.\u201d<\/p>\n

For every player who follows, this group will be the example. The class that showed what it means to truly \u201cstrive for honor evermore.\u201d Not even a global pandemic could stop them from picking up the pieces and leaving the Double T better than they found it. <\/p>\n

And they ain\u2019t done yet. <\/p>\n

Catch this senior class, as well as the entire team, Thursday night at 7pm in Lubbock for the regular season finale versus UCF. First 500 fans in attendance receive the always beloved Texas Tech Soccer annual scarf. <\/p>\n

Join the conversation with other Red Raiders on the\u00a0Inside The Double T<\/a>\u00a0forum.<\/p>\n

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