Daily Skiff

The women's soccer team closed out its spring schedule in exciting fashion with a 4-4 tie against the Texas Tech University Red Raiders at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.

The Horned Frogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals from freshman forward Jordan Calhoun and freshman defender Kaitlyn Shelledy.

After a sluggish start, Texas Tech responded with three unanswered goals, including one with a minute remaining in the first half. The Red Raiders led 3-2 with just under 20 minutes left to play in the game.

Calhoun, however, answered with her second goal of the contest after a feed from her teammate, freshman forward Kaylie Garcia. Freshman midfielder Katie Runyon's goal with just over five minutes remaining looked like it would secure the win for the Horned Frogs, but Texas Tech managed to tie the game with just 27 seconds remaining.

Head coach Dan Abdalla said he thought his team accomplished its goal of developing chemistry and leadership during the spring season.

"Our goal this entire spring was to really develop some personality on the field and to find the roles that players will play," Abdalla said. "I'm really happy; they showed some good things tonight."

Abdalla said he thought several players made noticeable strides this spring, but redshirt freshman defender Katie Taylor really took her game to the next level.

"She has a presence on the field, and she showed that tonight," Abdalla said.

Taylor said she saw spring ball as an opportunity to become more of a leader on the team before heading into the fall season.

"Coach has told me that I have the vocal ability to lead and people look up to me, so I'm trying to do it on a consistent basis," Taylor said.

Taylor said all the players have high expectations of themselves and of each other, so it is not hard to get them on board.

"I'll demand something from them and they'll do it and it also works vice versa," Taylor said. "It's one of those things that have to do with respect."

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