Soccer Team Falls To UAB On The Road, 5-2

Friday, October 10

Birmingham, Ala.

7:00 PM

Rice University

7-5, 3-2

UAB

4-9, 2-3

Team	1	2	Final F
Rice	1	1	2
UAB	3	2	5

<b>Jessica Ross</b><br>Will Rice College

10/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 10, 2008

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB tandem of Laura McCalla and Tiffini Turpin both scored two goals each to lead the Blazer soccer team to a 5-2 Conference USA win over visiting Rice Friday evening at the West Campus Field in Birmingham.

McCalla scored a quick goal in the third minute of the contest and added her second of the night with an assist by Turpin in the 25th minute for an early 2-0 Blazer lead. Rice came right back and scored 16 seconds later to keep the Owls alive 2-1. Freshman Hope Ward hit the crossbar with a shot and sophomore Kate Edwards alertly played the carom to the back of the net from close range.

The Blue & Gray had a chance to tie the game late in the first half with an open look at the goal on a breakaway. Blazer goalkeeper Kate Blankenship made a diving stop and UAB used the momentum to score just before the end of the period. Turpin hit a shot off a pass from Carolyn Polcari in the 42nd minute and UAB took a 3-1 lead into the intermission.

Turpin scored her second goal of the game in the 70th minute to make it 4-1. The Blazers added their final goal in the 80th as Polcari assisted on Allison Belsterling's score. Rice battled for its goal of the night in the 83rd minute. Freshman Nikki Storness swung a pass out to Jessica Ross on the right wing. As the UAB keeper charged out to try and play the ball, Ross lofted a high shot that bounded in to the back of the net on the left side-netting. It was Ross' first career goal as Owl and closed-out an explosive seven-goal contest.

The shots in the game were even for both teams, 10-10, as were the corner kicks, 3-3. Rice fell to 7-5-0 on the season and 3-2-0 in C-USA. UAB improved to 4-9-0 overall and 2-3 in league play.

The Owls next face defending C-USA Tournament champion Memphis on Sunday (Oct. 12). The match with the Tigers is being taped for a television broadcast by CBS College Sports.