Rice University
9-3-2, 3-0-1
Marshall
3-9-1, 0-3-1
Soccer Team Defeats Marshall 3-1 Friday Night
10/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HUNTINGTON, WV -- Freshman Korey Taylor and senior Samantha Conn both scored goals to help lead the Rice soccer team to a 3-1 Conference USA road win over Marshall at the Thundering Herd's Sam Hood Soccer Complex Friday evening in Huntington, WV.
With the win the Owls improved to 9-3-2 overall and remained unbeaten in C-USA action with a 3-0-1 league record. Rice is 4-0-1 in its last five games heading into Sunday's final leg of the weekend road trip at conference foe East Carolina.
Rice had to work in the early going to keep Marshall off the scoreboard and a heads-up play by the defenders proved to be a good sign. In the seventh minute of the contest Rice goalkeeper Meghan Erkel attempted to corral a loose ball in the box, but it deflected off a teammate and landed at the feet of Marshall forward Molly Snead. Snead quickly blasted away at a shot from 10 yards out, but Rice senior Lindsay Jaggers alertly stepped in behind the traffic and made a leaping defensive stab at the ball to prevent the score.
Jaggers' good hustle paved the way for some good fortune a few minutes later. Marshall had the opportunity to make a similar team save in its own end in the 24th minute, but the ball took sharp slice off a steep angle and bounced into the netting for an "own goal." Rice moved in front with early 1-0 lead, but a late first half score by Taylor proved to be the real difference.
With just 36 seconds remaining before the intermission, Rice senior Beth Martin served a long crossing pass from the left side to Taylor breaking free in front of the goal. Taylor headed the ball on a sprint from six yards out that beat the Marshall keeper to the right side. It was the freshman's third goal of the season and provided a critical 2-0 advantage just before halftime.
Marshall would not go away so easy on its home field. In the 79th minute the Herd's Kassie Hollman passed successfully to Mollie Lee who converted on a shot attempt from close range. Lee's third goal of the season gave Marshall new life by cutting the margin to 2-1.
The Blue & Gray added an insurance goal in the 84th minute. Clory Martin had the ball on a breakaway on the left wing inside the 18-yard line, and appeared to be on her way to a one-on-one with the Marshall keeper, but a tackle drew a foul and set up a penalty kick. Conn stepped forward to take the pk, and hammered a solid attempt. Marshall made a sensational stop on the pk, but Conn's attempt was so hard that the now-live ball bounded away. Conn alertly followed her shot and played the deflection easily to the back of the net for a 3-1 the score. The goal was Conn's second of the season and the 14th of her collegiate career.
Rice held a 15-7 in shots for the game. The Owls have posted at least 15 shots in four of the last five outings where the team is unbeaten with one tie. Marshall fell to 3-9-1on the season and 0-3-1 against the league.
Rice continues the two-game weekend road swing on Sunday with a C-USA match at East Carolina. Start time is slated for 11 am (Central) in Greenville, NC.
Team Stats
TEAM
own goal
23:25
Korey Taylor (3)
Assisted By: Beth Martin
header from six yards after long left cr
44:27
LEE, Mollie (1)
Assisted By: HOLLMAN, Kassie
from close range past keeper on right si
78:26
Samantha Conn (2)
rebound after a pk
83:39
