Soccer Team Defeats McNeese State 4-2

Friday, September 19

Rice Track/Soccer Stadium

4:00 PM

Rice University

4-2-0

McNeese State

3-3-0

Team	1	2	Final F
McNeese State	0	2	2
Rice	2	2	4

9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 19, 2008

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HOUSTON -- Freshman Amy Beger scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the Rice soccer team to a 4-2 victory over visiting McNeese State Friday afternoon at the Rice Track & Soccer Stadium.

Just like last year's contest on the opening day of the season, Rice took an early 2-0 lead but McNeese charged back with two second half goals to tie the score. That first meeting with MSU would go on to end in a 2-2 deadlock after two overtime periods. It wasn't a loss, but the Owls felt like a possible road win against a talented team (that went on to share the 2007 Southland Conference championship) slipped away on that rainy day in Lake Charles, La.

Flash-forward to Friday afternoon and the Owls opened the 2008 rematch with McNeese with an early goal. After a foul at midfield in the third minute of the game, Kellen Schugart served a direct free kick into traffic just outside the goalkeeper's box. Beger leaped to head the ball to the back of the MSU net and the Owls were in front 1-0. Rice doubled the margin in the 24th minute when junior Anne Candee scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season on a cross from Erin Scott.

McNeese State, however, proved once again it would not go away so easily. Kamryn Koch assisted on Lauren LaLanne's goal for the team's first score in the 48th minute. Koch then added her team-leading eighth goal of the season in the 50th minute. MSU had tied the game, 2-2, with a quick pair of back-to-back scores and there was a full 50 minutes left in regulation.

"One of the things we (the coaches) tell team is the game can change," said Rice head coach Chris Huston. "Now I want to be sure to tell them, the game can quickly change. We got two goals and got over-confident while McNeese was determined in the second half. We have to learn that we have to play the full 90 minutes. I am pleased to get the win and I saw some positives we can build-on from this game. I didn't want any flashbacks."

The Owls certainly might have thought they were in for strange afternoon of deja vu. As it happens, Beger wasn't at 2007's 2-2 tie and was able to re-write a different outcome the rematch. The newcomer from St. Charles, Mo., stepped up and broke the deadlock with her second goal of the game in the 76th minute. Junior Alexa Coralli made a wide charge and then found the Owls' freshman forward breaking free inside the 18-yard line.

Beger blasted a shot toward an open post and notched her second score past a leaping MSU keeper. Rice regained the lead, 3-2, but she helped create one more insurance goal in the 78th minute. With two scores on the board Beger now drew a lot of attention from the MSU defense on the wing. She passed the ball to teammate Shelley Wong, who converted on a shot in front of the goal from the 18 yards out. The score was Wong's third of the young season.

"It feels good that we won the game, and I am glad to be able to have a part in it," Beger said. "I wanted to play a lot better than I have been playing recently. Today I felt I played pretty decent. I'm finally getting in the groove of playing forward again so hopefully there will be more to come."

Beger's five-point day (two goals, one assist) is tied for the fifth-highest total in school history. It stands alone as the most points in a game by a Rice true freshman. Former Owl Caitlin Robbins accomplished the same feat as a redshirt freshman in 2005. As a team Rice held a 26-12 advantage in shots and a comfortable 12-2 margin in corner kicks. The Blue & Gray improved to 4-2-0 on the year. McNeese State fell to 3-3-0 overall.

The Owls are scheduled to host nationally-ranked Texas A&M in a home game on Sunday (Sept. 21) at 12 noon. The match is slated for a television broadcast by CBS College Sports, one of two regular season games scheduled aired on that network. Texas A&M is unbeaten with 5-0-1 record and as high as eighth in the nation.