Rice University
8-5-1, 4-1-1
Tulane
1-9-0, 1-6-0
Robbins' Two Early Goals Lifts Rice Over Tulane, 3-1
10/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 21, 2005
HOUSTON - Sophomore Caitlin Robbins scored two early goals off a pair of nearly identical corner kicks by Anne Candee to lift the Rice soccer team to a 3-1 Conference USA win over visiting Tulane before an energized crowd of 657 Friday evening at the Rice Track/Soccer Stadium.
In the game's ninth minute Candee sent a high corner kick from the left side into traffic in front of the keeper's box where she found Robbins between the left post and the keeper. Robbins elevated and headed a shot to the back of the net on the left side.
"Anne was putting a great ball in all night, it was perfect service." Robbins said. "She really strikes the ball well and puts it where she wants it. It's really nice being able to work with a player like that at top."
Robbins' team-leading seventh goal of the season gave the Owls a 1-0 advantage. The Candee-to-Robbins connection, however, was not quite finished yet.
In the 16th minute and three Rice corner kicks later, Candee served another left corner where again, Robbins went up and headed the ball past the Green Wave defenders for an Owl score. Robbins' eighth goal of the year made it 2-0 and marked the second time this season for the local standout from nearby Lamar High School to score a pair of goals in a single game.
"It worked the first time so I thought let's try it once more," Candee said. "We didn't have a lot of success on corners earlier in the year, but we've been working on it recently and have done really well in practice. It felt good to see something you practice work in a game."
Candee notched her team-leading seventh and eighth assists for her third multi-assist game of the season. Rice continued to apply the offensive pressure, taking six corner kicks and eight shots in the first half. The Owls added their third score of the half in the 27th minute when junior midfielder Vanessa Serrano found teammate Samantha Conn open from 10 yards out on the right side. Conn fired shot that beat the Tulane keeper for her sixth goal of the season.
"This might be the best we've come out to start a game this season," said Rice head coach Chris Huston. "Caitlin had an outstanding game and Vanessa really stepped it up. (Senior defender Erin) Droeger had a great game and Beth Martin did a great job for us in the back.
Rice was looking to record the team's sixth shutout of the season, but the Green Wave continued to battle to the end. In the game's 89th minute senior midfielder Kristen Tasca scored her first goal of the year off a corner kick from junior Rachel Thompson.
Rice moved to 8-5-1 on the season and 4-1-1 in Conference USA action. Tulane fell to 1-9-0 overall and 1-6-0 in league play. The Owls next host rival UTEP in a C-USA match on Sunday, Oct. 23. As Rice's final regular season home game, the Owl seniors will be honored prior to the start of the match. Start time is slated for 1 pm at the Rice Track/Soccer Stadium. The task at hand Sunday is not lost on Huston or the team.
"UTEP knows how to win," Huston explained. "Our team is going to have to play their best game to pull out a win. This is an important part of the season Sunday."
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Team Stats
ROBBINS, Caitlin (7)
Assisted By: CANDEE, Anne
off corner kick from left side
8:45
ROBBINS, Caitlin (8)
Assisted By: CANDEE, Anne
off header on left corner kick
15:34
CONN, Samantha (6)
Assisted By: SERRANO, Vanessa
from 10 yards out on right side
26:44
TASCA, Kristen (1)
Assisted By: THOMPSON, Rachel
off corner kick
88:38
