Taylor Lytle to Join Pali Blues

Former Texas Tech standout midfielder Taylor Lytle has accepted an offer to play with the Pali Blues Soccer Club, a semi-professional soccer club in Los Angeles.

Lytle concluded her collegiate career at Texas Tech last fall as one of the most decorated players in program history, and will now continue playing at one of the highest levels of competition in women’s soccer.

“It’s just a great opportunity for me,” Lytle said. “The west coast is always full of really good players and when I spoke with the head coach [Charlie Naimo] it just sounded like the perfect fit for me.”

The Pali Blues will officially begin its season May 13. The club is the two-time defending champions of the United Soccer W-League.

“I think the Pali Blues will be the perfect fit for Taylor,” Texas Tech head coach Tom Stone said. “Head coach Charlie Naimo has a terrific reputation for creating a very professional environment for his players, and the competitive nature of the training and games Taylor will be involved in will enable her to reach the next levels of her career.”

Following her Texas Tech career, Lytle was selected to the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team player pool. In March, she helped the squad to capture a title in the Four Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain before joining the Sky Blue Soccer Club, a Women’s Professional League team for a tour in Japan.

Lytle, who served as a senior captain during the 2011 season, graduated Texas Tech as the career-leader in assists with 27. During her career she played in 72 matches, starting 67, and scored a total of 14 goals, six of which were game winners.

“We are happy to add more professional level talent to our team,” Naimo said. “Taylor’s technical ability and quickness will be a great compliment. We are expecting her to make an immediate impact.”

Following the conclusion of the 2011 season, Lytle was named NSCAA All-Region for the second time in her career.

The Pali Blues have a roster that features some of the top players from the Women’s Professional League, U.S. National Teams and many of the top college players in the country.

“I’m excited to get out there and be pushed to play better,” Lytle said. “It’s going to be a great environment for me to be around to take that next step.”

• For video of Lytle, courtesy of Texas Tech, click here.