Rice University
7-5-1, 3-1-1
Houston
7-4-2, 2-2-1
Rice and Houston Battle To 1-1 Double-Overtime Tie
10/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 14, 2005
HOUSTON - After a pair of matching goals early in the first half, the Rice and University of Houston soccer teams battled to a 1-1 double-overtime tie before a vocal crowd of 1,087 Friday evening at the Rice Track/Soccer Stadium. The Owls clearly would have preferred a win, especially after doubling the Cougars in shots on the night (17-8), but the 1-1 draw was good enough to move Rice into a three-way tie for first place in the C-USA standings.
Even with a tie Rice (7-5-1 overall, 3-1-1 C-USA) still managed to pick up an important point, the team's seventh, in the league standings. A UAB loss at Memphis (1-0) and a UTEP loss at home to SMU (2-1) knotted-up the soccer leaderboard. Three more teams, SMU, Memphis and Central Florida, all have six points through Friday's action and are only a digit away from a share of first place. Houston is hanging tough with five points and Tulsa is still in the picture with four.
"We're not here to tie a game, we're here to win and we fell short of that," Rice head coach Chris Huston said. "I don't think anybody on the team is pleased with a the result.
"There were some moments of really good play," she added. "Caitlin Robbins had great shot go for a goal. I always tell the team 'leave it all on the field,' and they did that. Everyone worked really hard, the ball just didn't bounce our way this game."
Houston jumped on the scoreboard with a goal in the fourth minute of the contest. Cougar freshman Courtney Gaines sent a corner kick into traffic in front of the Rice goal where forward Sarah Fisher converted on a shot from 10 feet out for her fourth goal of the season.
Rice came back and tied the game in the 30th minute when junior midfielder Vanessa Serrano found Robbins 18 yards out on the left wing. Robbins settled the ball and blasted a shot that beat the UH keeper low to the right side. It was Robbins' team-leading sixth goal of the season.
The Owls went on to outshoot Houston 9-3 in the first half and 7-2 in the second, but the Blue and Gray could not convert the chances to scores and the game was tied 1-1 after regulation. Two ten-minute over time periods could not break the deadlock. It was the second consecutive game for both teams to reach double-overtime but unlike the respective wins Rice and UH posted on the road a week ago, the teams remained tied after 110 total minutes.
"The team's a little disappointed we didn't pull out a victory, but we worked hard for 110 minutes," Robbins said. "We created a lot of opportunities on crosses but it just didn't go our way on the end of those plays. We'll keep working and good things will happen."
Where the team normally has two games a weekend, Rice has break from its regular Sunday action. The Owls next host Tulane in a C-USA match on Friday, Oct. 21. Start time is slated for 7 pm at the Rice Track/Soccer Stadium. Huston sees the break as a positive.
"The two-day break is going to be good for us," Huston said. "I think it will be beneficial to start the week with some fresh legs. Then we'll get back to work for two big home games next week."
Team Stats
FISHER, Sarah (4)
Assisted By: GAINES, Courtney
in the box after a corner
3:03
ROBBINS, Caitlin (6)
Assisted By: SERRANO, Vanessa
from 18 yards in front toright side
29:13
