The Texas Tech soccer team announced its spring schedule Monday afternoon, which features five matches away from Lubbock, while the Red Raiders will play one home match on April 7th when they host New Mexico at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

"The spring is a crucial time in our sport-- and a very important one for this team in particular with the veterans we return and the excellent class we have coming in," head coach Tom Stone said. "Foundations can be built this time of year in a way that gives you a great edge in the fall season. We will be going at it hard from day one and play a spring schedule that will challenge us to keep improving."

Texas Tech is coming off one of the best campaigns in school history finishing the 2011 season with a 10-7 record and a fourth place finish in the Big 12, which was the highest conference finish in school history.

Texas Tech returns 20 players who saw action last season and accounted for 75 percent of the team's minutes. The returning players include All-Big 12 Second Team selection and unanimous All-Big 12 Newcomer Team selection Jaelene Hinkle along with All-Big 12 Newcomer selection Victoria Esson.

More From Talk 103.9 & 1340