Texas Tech’s Tom Stone called the 2012 soccer season a “story book” year for his seniors. Stone’s first full recruiting class leaves having won more games than any other class, including a program-record 16 this year, culminating with a second-round finish in the NCAA Championships. Now, it’s a new class’ turn to write its own story, “(It’s great) for our freshmen now to have been a part of that,” Stone said, “be able to tell this story for the next four years of their career while we push for hopefully better things.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — She’s an All-American for a reason. And Florida State forward Tiffany McCarty reminded the Texas Tech women’s soccer team of that Friday night. McCarty’s goal in second overtime lifted the top-seeded FSU to a 3-2 victory over Texas Tech and sent the Seminoles to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. FSU (18-3) plays host to Texas A&M (19-4-1) on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the right to advance to the Elite Eight. Texas Tech (16-6-1) heads back home with an appreciation of playing two games in the NCAA Tournament.

Watching North Texas on video, Texas Tech soccer coach Tom Stone knew the best way to negate the Mean Green’s front three was to simply keep them moving with out the ball. The Red Raiders played the possession game to perfection, never letting the Mean Green get into any offensive rhythm, and senior Dawn Ward made the strategy pay off with a pair of second-half goals in a 2-0 victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday night at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

After seeing Monday morning’s rankings, Texas Tech soccer coach Tom Stone knew his Red Raider soccer team was going to be in the NCAA tournament. Sitting pretty as the No. 22 team in the nation in the latest RPI ranking, all Stone had to do was sit back, relax and watch “Texas Tech” float across the screen. When the Double T finally did get put in one of the brackets on Monday afternoon — after 60 schools before it had been placed — Stone watched his team’s euphoric celebration.