Soccer Team Blanks SFA 5-0

Sunday, September 17

Nacogdoches, TX

2:00 PM

Rice University

7-0-1

Stephen F. Austin

3-3-0

Rice Owls

Stephen F. Austin

Clory Martin scored the Owls' first goal

9/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 17, 2006

Box Score

NACOGDOCHES -- Junior forward Clory Martin scored two goals and passed out one assist to help the Rice soccer team cruise past Stephen F. Austin 5-0 Sunday afternoon on the road in Nacogdoches. With the team's fifth-straight shut out performance the Owls remained undefeated on the season and improved their record to 7-0-1.

A lightning warning in the fourth minute may have halted the contest for over an hour, but the Owls were ready when play resumed. Fresh off a three-goal night against Texas Southern four days before Martin went right to work on SFA early in the first half. In the eighth minute she fielded a strong pass from Ashley Lucas in the midfield, beat a SFA defender and charged to the opposing goal. The Lady Jack goalkeeper came out in an attempt to cut down the shooter's angle, but Martin lifted the ball high at the top of the 18-yard line and found the back of the left-center of the net.

Some Rice defenders turned offensive-minded to make the score 2-0 in the 23rd minute. Freshman defender Kellen Schugart blasted a corner kick into traffic just inside the 18 where senior defender Laura Barber connected on a header that beat the SFA keeper low to the left side. A mainstay on the Owls' defense the last four years, Barber notched the second goal of her career and the first since her freshman year.

Back in Rice territory Barber and the Owl defenders had another sound and solid outing. The Blue and Gray allowed SFA to take only two shots in the first half and eight for the entire game. Without allowing any shots on the Rice goal the Owls secured their sixth shut out of the year and fifth-straight game without allowing a any goals.

"Offensively and defensively, I thought we executed pretty well," Rice head coach Chris Huston said. "We played well at home, but we had not been very consistent playing on the road. (SFA) is a good team and going in we knew we were going to need a really good effort. I think we got it today. Now we need to build on this one."

Rice's offense wasn't quite finished, and delivered three more quick blows in the second half for the knockout. Early in the period sophomore Christine Petric made a steal and quickly threaded the ball to Martin, only this time it was junior Beth Martin, breaking toward the goal from the left wing. Martin converted on a shot from 12 yards to the right-side netting and 3-0 Rice advantage. It was the first time for both of the Martin twins to score a goal in the same game.

Beth Martin had scored in the 55th minute and Clory Martin came right back with her second goal of the day in the 56th minute. Freshman Stephanie Crain quickly drew a crowd as she worked the ball toward the SFA keeper's box, then passed to Clory Martin who now had an open look at the goal. Martin's shot was on target high inside the right post and stretched the margin to 4-0 with her team-leading sixth goal of the season. Only one minute later Clory Martin crossed to freshman Katelyn Ostenorf getting free in front of the goal, who turned her only shot of the day into her third goal of the season and a 5-0 lead.

"Ash and Stephanie gave me some great chances to score, so I have to try to be able to do that too," Clory said. "I was happy to score, but I was more happier when Beth scored. That is so cool. I'm proud of her, and the whole team. We've been working hard."

The Owls out-shot SFA 19-8 on the day to win on the road for the third time this season. The Lady Jacks' overall record fell to 3-3-0.

Rice next plays Texas State on the road in San Marcos on Friday (Sept. 22). Start time with the Bobcats is scheduled for 7 pm.