Rice University
6-3-1
Lamar
0-8-0
Owls Thump Lamar 5-0
9/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HOUSTON -- The Rice forward tandem of Erin Scott and Korey Taylor both scored a pair of goals while Clory Martin and Shelley Wong notched a pair of assists as the Owls' soccer team coasted to a 5-0 win over visiting Lamar Friday evening at the Rice Soccer Stadium.
Rice controlled the tempo, but the catalyst behind the offensive outburst was a defensive move. The Owls finally reversed the trend of losing players to the injury list and for once reclaimed a starter, sophomore defender Kellen Schugart, back to the first 11. The sophomore's return allowed Rice head coach Chris Huston to shift Taylor, a young freshman who had been starting in Schugart's place on defense, back to Taylor's primary position up top.
The shift put the Blue & Gray in business. The Owls enjoyed a comfortable 42-0 margin in shots, including 19 on-goal. The team had four goals in the first 20 minutes, two by the now back-at-home Taylor.
"Kellen had started all last year, but we had to start Kory on defense because we needed her back there," Huston explained. "It's great to see Kellen return. By her going in the backline it freed Korey to go up front and you can see her debut at forward, two goals."
Rice went right to work with an early score and proceeded to add three more goals in the first 20 minutes of the contest for a 4-0 advantage. In the third minute, Wong zipped a short pass to Martin in traffic near the right post and the senior from Austin blasted away on a shot wide across the mouth of the goal but into the side netting for a lead the Owls would not relinquish. In the 14th minute Wong found Taylor open on the right wing. The rookie from McKinney needed only a touch to settle the ball and score on a shot from 12 yards out that beat the keeper to the left side.
In the 16th minute Martin launched a long corner kick from the right side past the keeper's box. As the defense initially followed the ball, sophomore Katelyn Ostendorf deflected back to Scott in front of the goal. Scott broke clear to take the pass and convert on the attempt for a goal from close-range. Rice then stretched the margin to 4-0 in the 20th minute after Taylor connected for her second goal of the night after a long dribble through the center of the field.
Scott gave the Blue & Gray its final goal of the night in the second half. Her second score of the game, in the 71st minute with another assist from Martin, gave the Owls a season-high five goals on the night. The total tied for the fourth-highest goal output in school history. The 42 shots was the fifth-highest since starting the soccer program in 2001.
"(Playing forward) felt great, like being back home," Taylor said. "I had been defensive-minded the whole time and all of a sudden it was 'offense, ready... go!' It was all just remembering the right runs to make and where to be position-wise."
Amid all the offensive fireworks was a pretty steady job by the Rice defenders that came in under the radar. The Owls' entire backline, starters and reserves, did not allow a Cardinal shot for the 90 minutes and the result was the team's fourth shutout in 10 games. Shugart enjoyed her first start since 2006, but hinted the program's proud tradition of defenders may let one get away.
"It felt kind of exciting coming back and starting... exciting and tiring," Schugart quipped. "My fitness is far from where it needs to be right now, but it will get there. It was good to get everybody playing where they're most comfortable. I was coaching Kory on defense this whole time and she might have had a future there, but I guess two goals in your first game is pretty good too!"
With the win Rice improved to 6-3-1 on the season. Lamar, which is in its first year to field a Division I soccer program, dropped to 0-8-0. The Owls next host crosstown rival the University of Houston to open Conference USA play on Friday (Oct. 5). The start time for the league match is slated for 7 pm at the Rice Track/Soccer Stadium.
"Ready or not, the conference season is now here," coach Huston said. "Conference games are tough-enough, but it is always a battle facing your crosstown rival. We'll need a great crowd for a big game like that."
Team Stats
Clory Martin (4)
Assisted By: Shelley Wong
short range near right post across to le
2:06
Korey Taylor (1)
Assisted By: Shelley Wong
inside 12 yards beat keeper to left side
13:50
Erin Scott (2)
Assisted By: Clory Martin , Katelyn Ostendorf
pass off a corner in front of the goal
15:50
Korey Taylor (2)
off a long dribble, from 10 yards out
19:29
Erin Scott (3)
Assisted By: Clory Martin
in front of the goal from seven yards
70:28
