Owls Claim 1-0 Road Win Over Texas State

Friday, September 22

San Marcos

7:00 PM

Rice University

8-0-1

Texas State

1-7-0

Rice Owls

Texas State

9/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 22, 2006

Box Score

San Marcos, TX -- Junior midfielder Samantha Conn scored on a penalty kick in the 82nd minute and senior goalkeeper Amy McClintock posted a Rice-record sixth-straight shutout to lift the soccer team to a 1-0 road win over Texas State Friday night in San Marcos. With the victory the Owls remained undefeated with an 8-0-1 record and improved on their best start in school history.

Rice appeared in control for most of both halves, finishing with a 20-10 lead in shots and 7-3 advantage corner kicks, but the Blue and Gray had trouble converting the opportunities to goals. With a strong wind at their back in the first half the Owls sent three shots over the top of the goal, two were wide, another two were blocked and two were saved.

In the second half Rice applied the pressure and quickly had three corner kicks in the first nine minutes. The team also a pair of off-sides on break-aways that were part of five off-sides violations on the night to tie a season high. Sophomore Christine Petric took good attempt on shot that was corralled by the Texas State keeper in the 65th minute. Traci Fraser had the same fate in the 70th minute.

Conn had started the second half but came out for a breather midway though the period. The tide shifted shortly after she returned to the field in the 80th minute. By the 82 minute the standout from Clute found herself volunteering for a take what would be the make-or-break penalty shot.

"Christine drew a double-team in the box and went down pretty hard," Conn said. "She wasn't getting up so easy afterward and everyone was asking, 'Christine do you want it (the PK)?' Normally we don't have any concern with Christine taking it, but this time I just said 'I'll take it. Christine looked at me and said, 'are you 100 percent you'll make it? and I said, 'I will make this.'

"Then I thought, wow, we're tied. I guess better make this!"

Clearly, Joe Namath has nothing on Samantha Conn. The Owls' midfielder went low to the left corner and found the back of the net with no trouble. The score was her third goal of the year and proved to be her second game-winner.

"We practice PKs," Conn added, "and going against Amy and Kristina (Hoban) can get you ready. I took the shot and I'm glad it worked out."

There was still the little matter of the final eight-plus minutes on the clock. The Owls didn't necessarily crawl into the bunker, but rather continued to play their game and press on offense. Freshman Katelyn Ostendorf came close enough to hit the crossbar with a shot in the 86th minute. It was perhaps fitting metaphor to close out Rice's night.

"It wasn't the greatest game we ever played, but the sign of a good team is when play like this and still win," Conn surmised. " We know we're a good team, but we need to be aware that because we are a good team people are coming for us. We have to be ready."

Rice next meets Conference USA foe Central Florida at home on Sept. 29 to open league play. Start time with the Golden Knights is slated for 7 pm at the Rice Soccer Stadium. The Blue and Gray complete the two-game homestand with a C-USA match against Southern Miss on Oct. 1 at 1 pm.