June 24, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech head women's soccer coach Tom Stone, who is currently serving as the assistant coach for the United States Under-20 Women's National Team, will compete for a berth in the 2008 U-20 Women's World Cup when Team USA takes on Costa Rica in Wednesday's Concacaf semi-final game.

The U.S. team has been in Puebla, Mexico, since June 13th competing in the Concacaf Region World Cup Qualifying Tournament. The top-two teams advance to the U-20 World Cup to be held in Chile late next fall so there is a lot at stake when the U.S. kicks off against Costa Rica at 1pm CT.

Stone has been with the U.S. Under-20 team since his appointment to the assistant coach's position this past January.

"It is an honor to be asked to work within our U.S. National Team program, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience," Stone said. "The international game is very different from youth, professional or college soccer, and I have enjoyed the challenge of developing as a coach in this environment, while also trying to help this team achieve its ultimate goal of becoming a world champion."

Stone's appointment to the U.S. U-20 staff completes a grand slam of sorts in the soccer coaching world as he has now been a coach at the youth, professional, college and national team levels.

"I feel fortunate to have had this opportunity come along at a time when our players are out for the summer and to have the support of Gerald Myers (Tech athletics director) and Judi Henry (Tech senior associate athletics director/SWA) in this endeavor," said Stone. "It is also a privilege to be able to represent Texas Tech athletics within the U.S. National Team program"

Stone returns to Texas Tech immediately following the championship game on the 28th and is excited to get back to campus.

"It has been a long road trip in Mexico, and I am excited to get back to Lubbock where I can spend time with my family and check in with our Texas Tech players to see how their summer is coming along," Stone said. "We have an Elite Camp on campus at the end of July and then before we know it, preseason training will be upon us. I know our staff is very excited to see our 2008 Texas Tech soccer team take the field for the first time."

Texas Tech will be coming off of a breakthrough season in 2007 where Stone's Red Raiders finished fifth in the Big 12 and qualified for the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 1999.

Wins over Nebraska, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Colorado and Iowa State propelled Tech to a 5-4-1 record in the Big 12 and has justifiably created some excitement around women's soccer for 2008.

"The challenge this year will be to successfully integrate 11 new players, which is never easy," stated Stone. "If we come together as a group to make that happen, then I like our chances as the season moves along, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The best news is that our core of 15 current players had a great spring and they are eager get back on the field in real competition after the success we had last year. We are certainly excited about the freshmen but our success will come down to our upperclassmen."

The Red Raiders host West Texas A&M in their first preseason match, before opening the regular season Aug. 22, against Lamar in Lubbock.