The Red Raiders completed two shutouts to open the 2026 season in Hawaii.
No. 23-ranked Texas Tech put together a pair of shutouts to begin the 2026 soccer season.
The Red Raiders defeated host Hawaii 1-0 on Thursday before drawing 0-0 with Seattle U on Saturday, moving their record to 1-0-1.
The lone goal on the trip came from senior forward Storie Sexton, who came off the bench to connect on her only shot against the Rainbow Warriors.
Tech's second game faced tropical weather, but goalkeeper Addie Todd made seven saves to anchor the defense.
Seattle was forced to use two keepers in net due to an injury, and facing winds up to 30 miles per hour, the Redhawks still managed to keep the Red Raiders at bay by making six saves in total.
Texas Tech returns to Lubbock for its home opener on Aug. 23 against Boise State. First touch is slated for 7 p.m. at John Walker Soccer Complex.
Red Raiders earning Big 12 recognition
Tech remains one of the biggest threats in a pursuit of a Big 12 title, and as it has shown through two clean sheets to start the year, the defense is what will lead the charge.
Individually, defenders Kylie Bahr, Eleanor Hays, along with forward Taylor Zdrojewski, were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team.
If Tech can produce a defensive player of the year, it will be the fourth consecutive season a Red Raider has won the award. Last year, All-American senior Macy Blackburn took home the honor for a second straight year, following Hannah Anderson's win in 2023.
Bahr, Zdrojewski, Sam Courtwright and Peyton Parsons were also named to the all-conference first team in 2025.
The Red Raiders were dominant last season, finishing with a record of 14-2-5 and 7-1-3 in conference play.
Still, Tech has its eyes set on better play in the postseason after the 2025 campaign came to an end at the hands of two penalty shootouts.
Baylor advanced in the Big 12 Championship tournament after a 1-1 draw with Texas Tech in the opening round. The Bears converted seven PKs to Tech's six to move on.
It was a similar story in the NCAA tournament. The Red Raiders defeated UTSA, then fell to North Carolina 4-3 in the shootout after a 1-1 tie.
The Red Raiders are looking to return to the ways of the 2023 season, which saw them reach the third round of the national tournament to tie the furthest finish in program history.
Bahr returns for her fifth year of eligibility after a First Team All-Big 12 selection a year ago. The Sedalia, Colorado, native was a stalwart for the Tech defense, totaling over 1,300 minutes and captaining a unit that allowed only 16 goals in 21 matches. Only Houston allowed fewer goals (14) than the Red Raiders last season.
Joining her was Hays, who begins her second season in Lubbock and fourth overall as a potential repeat selection on an all-conference team. Hays, a Lewisville native, was another constant at center back, starting 18 of the 19 matches she appeared in and often recording a full-time effort.
On the offensive end, Zdrojewski enters 2026 with a ton of momentum after a prolific junior season. The Celina native scored 16 goals - the third-most in a single season in Tech history - and three assists. She is a back-to-back all-conference honoree.
TCU leads the way with 13 first-place votes and 222 total points in the preseason coaches poll. The Horned Frogs are followed by Colorado (187), Kansas (182), West Virginia (182) and Texas Tech (180).
The Red Raiders earned one first-place vote.
Conference play begins on Sep. 17 with Texas Tech traveling to Orlando to face UCF. The Big 12 home opener is Sep. 24 against Cincinnati.
