Rice University Athletics
Rice University
3-1
Oklahoma
1-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Soccer Team Defeats Oklahoma On The Road 1-0
9/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NORMAN, Okla. -- Junior Anne Candee scored on a direct corner kick in the 88th minute to lift the Rice soccer team to a 1-0 road win over Big 12 foe Oklahoma Sunday afternoon in Norman, Okla.
Candee started the game on defense but moved to offense midway through the contest. On only her third shot of the game, and her lone attempt in the second half, Candee blasted a kick from the right corner into the goal's left-side netting for a late lead and eventual 1-0 winning margin. It was the Dallas native's team-leading fourth goal of the season and came after a previous set piece just missed going for a score in the 66th minute. On that first corner kick, Candee made a near-perfect placement near the mouth of the goal and teammate Jordan Holloway headed an attempt that went just over the crossbar.
"I usually try and look for someone on a corner kick," Candee said. "I knew I wanted to drive the last one pretty hard because even if we don't get a clean header, we might still get a good bounce if it gets deflected near the goal. I took the kick I wanted and I think the wind might have helped a little too. I'll take it because I think we started to play a lot better as the second half went on. Jordan did a great job and then Shelley (Wong) hit the post (on a shot attempt) a few minutes later. We were playing with confidence and I think in the end we earned it."
Oklahoma out-shot Rice 16-11 for the contest, but the Owls took some confident shots-on-goal in the final 30 minutes. Holloway's header went just high, Wong had two attempts after elusive breakaways through the midfield and Erin Scott and Hope Ward each took solid shots as well.
After Candee's corner found the inside netting, the Owls hung-on for the final two-plus minutes. Goalkeeper Meghan Erkel made four saves on the day to preserve the shutout victory. The sophomore keeper from Granite Bay, Calif., made a total of 15 saves for the two-game weekend road swing against Big 12 foes (Rice played at Oklahoma State on Friday, Sept. 5). The win over OU was the Owls' first win over a team from the Big 12 conference in two years, as well as its first win in a non-conference road game since 2006. Rice improved to 3-1 on the season while the Sooners fell to 1-4 on the year.
"I'm glad to get a win and I think it's a game we can build on," said Rice head coach Chris Huston. "Anne had a great corner go for a goal, and that was after starting her out on defense. She's so versatile that she can play anywhere. When we needed her to get a goal, or at least create a chance for a goal in the closing minutes, and she delivered. Shelley gave us a lift in the midfield today and that was a key. Winning on the road is tough, and we're not quite done yet. We have another one next week so we have to be ready to get back to work."
The Owls completed the two-game weekend road swing through Oklahoma, but still have one more road game to go. Rice next plays at longtime rival TCU on Sept. 12 (Friday) before returning home to host Ivy League power Princeton on Sept. 14.
Team Stats
CANDEE, Anne (4)
on corner kick
87:09
