Soccer Team Drops C-USA Opener To UCF 1-0

Friday, September 29

Rice Track/Soccer Stadium

7:00 PM

Rice University

8-1-1

UCF

5-4-1

Team	1	2	Final F
UCF	0	1	1
Rice Owls	0	0	0

9/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 29, 2006

Box Score

HOUSTON -- A lightning and rain storm kicked up almost immediately after play began in the Rice soccer team's Conference USA opener against UCF Friday night at home, and perhaps the first thought (the first thought other than getting to a safe shelter) was that the match might go the Owls' way. A lightning delay in a game two weeks ago in Nacogdoches seemed to work in the Rice's favor to the tune of a 5-0 road win at Stephen F. Austin.

Alas, the Owls could not get lightning to strike twice, and when it rained, it poured.

After enduring a one hour and ten minute lightning delay at the start of the match, UCF senior forward Roberta Pelarigo scored the lone goal of the game in the 61st minute to lead the Golden Knights to a 1-0 victory over previously undefeated Rice in the Conference USA opener for both teams at the Rice Soccer Stadium.

UCF took the first shot of the game in the opening minute, but by the fourth minute the officials had seen enough and ordered the teams and the fans to seek safe shelter. When play finally resumed the Owls took seven of the next ten shots, but could not convert the chances to goals. When UCF goalkeeper Jennifer Manis wasn't making a save, the shots began something of a trend of going just high or wide.

"We just couldn't finish on our opportunities," said Rice head coach Chris Huston. "We have to make sure that not only are we creating chances, but when we're in that final third we have to make sure that everything we're doing is on-target. We did not get a lot of shots on goal, so when we strike the ball we have to make sure it's on-target."

The shots may have proved to be a something of a frustrating theme on Friday, but that frustration was nothing compared to the season-long theme of the injury bug that has nagged the team all season. In the 32nd minute, junior midfielder Samantha Conn had to leave the game after a collision. The Owls had already been playing most of the first month of the season without two projected starters up front. Huston said the team certainly needed the talented Conn for a formidable C-USA opener like UCF, but she was pleased with the team's overall effort.

"Sam had been such a dominating force for us in the center midfield that there's no doubt that we miss her when she's not out there," Huston said. "At the same time I think a lot of our kids stepped up and played a really good game. The girls worked hard. They never quit and I'm really proud of them."

In the 61st minute UCF midfielder Hanna Wilde crossed the ball to Pelarigo inside the 18 after a throw-in from the left wing. The senior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, made a move through traffic and scored on a dribble. It was the first goal the Owls had allowed in more than six games, and only the fourth score against the Blue & Gray all year. Rice had rally on its mind, where even defenders like Laura Barber and Beth Martin were in on the action with good shot attempts late. Barber's header off a corner kick in the 76th minute brought the Rice fans to their feet and Martin had a lightning bolt of a shot in the 87th minute.

"Tonight a great player scored a great goal," Huston explained. "I thought we played well, we just have to regroup and play well again. We have to bounce back because we have to win a conference game on Sunday."

The Owls fell to 8-1-1 on the season and 0-1-0 in C-USA play. UCF improved to 5-4-1 on the year and 1-0-0 against the league. Rice next hosts C-USA foe Southern Miss at home on Sunday (Oct. 1). Start time for the match is 1 pm.