The Texas Tech soccer team battled to an even score at halftime, but a pair of second half goals from West Virginia capped a 3-1 decision on Wednesday night at Swope Soccer Village in Big 12 quarterfinal play.

The Red Raiders (9-7-3, 2-4-3) fell behind after a 15th minute tally from the Mountaineers (15-3-1, 7-1-1), but answered with a goal from sophomore defender Mary Heiberger in the 28th minute to pull even at the break. However, two scores from Heather Kaleiohi (68’) and Michaela Abam (83’) pushed WVU past the Red Raiders in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament.

Tech finished the night with four shots, including three on goal, while getting outshot by the Mountaineers, 25-4. Freshman forward Ally Griffin had two of Tech’s shots on goal, with Heiberger’s goal as the other. The Red Raiders earned three corners and freshman keeper Marissa Zucchetto rounded out the night with five saves.

The Mountaineers struck first in Wednesday’s contest, scoring off a corner kick in the 15th minute. Portillo sent her service deep in the box to a leaping Magaletta, who connected on a header to the left corner of the net for the 1-0 WVU lead.

The Red Raiders answered back by responding with their own corner kick, after senior defender Rebekah O’Brien had a shot blocked behind the goal from the right end of the attacking zone. On the kick, Harr served up a great ball to a leaping Carly Wickenheiser, who corralled the pass to Heiberger near the back post. Heiberger picked it up, turned and buried it past the WVU keeper to pull even at 1-1.

It was Heiberger’s first goal of her career and fifth assist for Harr. It also made Heiberger the sixth Red Raider to score her first collegiate tally in 2017 and the 12th different Red Raider to put a goal in the back of the net this season.

At the half, the Red Raiders had two shots, both on goal, while picking up two corner kick opportunities. Tech’s other shot in the frame came from freshman forward Ally Griffin in the 10th minute of the contest. Zucchetto tallied four saves after facing 13 shots from the Mountaineers in the first 45 minutes of play.

Midway through the second half, West Virginia broke the tie in the 68th minute as Kaleiohi took a shot while falling to the ground and lifted it over Zucchetto and into the goal to make it a 2-1 match.

After some chippy play, WVU added another on a shot from Abam to go ahead, 3-1. Abam worked to find an open lane and fired a shot from the top of the box to the upper 90 in the right corner of the net to push the advantage to two scores.

The Red Raiders leave the conference tournament with a 9-7-3 overall record after tallying 25 goals and seven clean sheets in 2017.

(Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Communications Department)