Rice University Athletics
Women's Soccer: Owls Announce 2001 Schedule
1/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
- 2001 Schedule
HOUSTON - Rice kicks off their inaugural women's soccer season by hosting Army at home on August 31. Throughout the four-month soccer season, the Owls will face several teams who have proven themselves as contenders, including a 2000 NCAA Women's College Cup participant and four teams ranked regionally in the final 2000 Central region poll.
The Owls open the season with four straight home games. Following the matchup with Army, Rice hosts cross-town rival Houston on Sept. 4, Southwest Texas State on Sept. 7, and Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 12. Houston is an up and coming squad in Conference-USA after finishing in the top half in the conference in each of their first three seasons.
Rice first-year head coach Chris Huston is excited about the upcoming season. "We have a strong schedule, especially for a first-year program," Huston said. "We're taking on some proven teams in Texas, SMU and Baylor, and we've got some tough road games, playing teams like North Texas, TCU and Tulsa, who will vie for a top-10 spot in the region. It's going to be a good test for our first year."
The Owls will play nine out of 14 games on the road after their opening with their home stand. Rice road trips will feature North Texas, Baylor, Texas, Fresno State, TCU, Tulsa, Oral Roberts, SMU and San Jose State, who made an appearance in the NCAA tournament in 2000. Home games for the Owls include South Alabama, Hawaii, UTEP, Boise State and Nevada.
The WAC tournament champion recieves an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's College Cup. This year's WAC tournament, and the 2001 NCAA College Cup, will be held at the Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the campus of SMU in Dallas. The WAC tournament is slated for Nov. 8-10, while the Women's College Cup will be Dec. 7-9.
