Sophomore goalkeeper Marissa Zucchetto kept the back of the Texas Tech net untouched all opening weekend, as the Red Raiders shutout New Mexico and No. 18 Pepperdine to begin the season 2-0 for the third straight year.
For her strength in goal, Zucchetto was tabbed the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career.
Zucchetto, who appeared in all 19 matches last season as a freshman but only started the last five, was quick to show her growth in her first two matches of 2018. Though she has a solid defense that has limited how many shots she has had taken on her, she has smothered chances when teams have happened to get them.
This was evident in the closing minutes of Tech’s upset over 18th-ranked Pepperdine on Sunday. With the Red Raiders leading 1-0 in the 80th minute, Zucchetto laid out to save a strike from the Waves’ Michelle Maemone. The ball got loose and rolled right in front of the Red Raider net, but Zucchetto pounced on it before it could cause more trouble. A few moments later, she ran out of net to corral a Pepperdine pass to squash what turned out to be their last offensive chance of the evening.
Overall, Zucchetto finished the weekend with five saves in 180 minutes in net and chiseled her career goals against average down to a fine 0.87. The Mississauga, Ont., native attributed her success to the strength of her defense.
“I give credit to my defenders,” Zucchetto said after the Pepperdine match. “They got on the ball quick, they kept possession, and they swung it around to keep it away from them.”
Riding back-to-back shutouts to open the year, Zucchetto and the Red Raiders are off to California to take on San Diego State on Friday before returning home to play Abilene Christian on Sunday. Tickets for the ACU game can be purchased here.
(Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Communications Department)
