Rice University
1-1-0
Saint Louis
1-1-0
Owls Fall To Saint Louis 3-1 Sunday Afternoon
8/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2005
HOUSTON - After taking an early lead, the Rice soccer team surrendered three unanswered goals and was defeated by visiting Saint Louis University 3-1 Sunday afternoon at the Rice Track/Soccer Stadium.
Coming off a big win over 24th ranked Auburn two nights before, the Owls appeared to be riding the same wave of momentum on Sunday. Rice jumped on the scoreboard with a goal in the fourth minute of the game. The sophomore trio of Caitlin Robbins, Clory Martin and Samantha Conn combined on a strike for the 1-0 advantage.
Conn brought the ball in on the right side and made an inside pass to Martin. When the Billiken defense collapsed around the Owls' leading scorer from a year ago, Martin quickly deflected the ball to Robbins who had a better look in front of the goal. Robbins blasted a shot past the SLU keeper on the right side for her second goal in as many games and doubling her goal total from a year ago.
Saint Louis regrouped and answered with a goal in the 33rd minute. Allison Sole passed to Caroline Sweeney who converted a shot from the left side and tied the game 1-1. The Billikens, who won the Conference USA regular season championship a year ago and moved to the Atlantic 10 the same day Rice joined its new league, added a pair of goals in the second half to stretch the margin to 3-1. Kelly Ferguson scored on a header from Courtney Hulcer in the 78th minute. Cassi Winchell tallied the game's final score in the 81st minute.
Rice led in shots 14 to 13, but only took one corner kick in the game early in the first half. The Owls' best chances to add goals in the second half seemed to barely miss the mark. Junior midfielder Maria Fadool rocketed a high shot that hit off the crossbar and Robbins also had a later attempt that was just high and right from the top corner. After such a solid performance Friday evening, getting close was of little consequence for head coach Chris Huston.
"We already knew Saint Louis was a very tough team after getting that hard-fought win (on the road) last year," Huston explained. "This is Division I soccer and we have two games every weekend. We have to be prepared and focused to play both of them. Hopefully we've learned something and that will get us ready to go back to work Monday."
The Blue and Gray fell to 1-1 on the season while Saint Louis improved to 1-1. The Owls next host Texas Southern on Thursday, Sept 1. Start time for the match is 7 pm at the Rice Track/Soccer Stadium.
Team Stats
ROBBINS, Caitlin (2)
Assisted By: CONN, Samantha , MARTIN, Clory
in front of the goal from a pass on righ
3:49
SWEENEY, Caroline (1)
Assisted By: SOLE, Allison
from the left side in front of the box
32:10
FERGUSON, Kelly (1)
Assisted By: HULCER, Courtney
header off a corner to left goal
77:15
WINCHELL, Cassi (1)
Assisted By: FOX, Liz
beat keeper to right side
80:46
