Rice University
3-10-2, 1-6-0
UCF
11-3-1, 6-1-0
Soccer Team Falls To UCF Friday Night 2-1
10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 16, 2009
HOUSTON -- Junior Korey Taylor's third goal of the season tied the game in the second half, but Conference USA leader UCF moved back in front with a score in the 70th minute and held-on for a 2-1 league win over the Rice soccer team Friday night at the Owls' Soccer Stadium.
Rice held an early 6-4 advantage in shots, but UCF opened the scoring with a first half goal. In the 18th minute, Courtney Whidden fielded a crossing pass from Nicolette Radovcic and hit a shot from close range for her team-leading eighth goal of the season.
The Owls continued to apply the offensive pressure and tied the game early in the second half. In the 52nd minute Ashley Lucas struck a Rice free kick at midfield that bounced behind some traffic in front of the UCF keeper's box. The ball drew a crowd from both teams, but Owl senior Erin Scott stabbed it away and created some room. Taylor alertly made the most of the opportunity by spinning a shot away from the defense to the back post on the right side. The goal was Taylor's third of the season and knotted the score at 1-1.
Less than a week ago Lucas served-in a similar ball against Memphis that led to the game-winning goal. Taylor explained that the Owls may have been thinking deja vu on this sequence, and that more scoring may be on the horizon.
"Ashley hit a nice free kick in, she does that all the time," Taylor said. "(The ball) got knocked around, but I came in behind everybody and was wide open when I got it. It felt good to get the goal, but overall it wasn't the final result we wanted. We have to keep our heads-up because we played well against a good team."
The Knight's regained the lead in the 70th minute. Becca Thomas got the ball from Whidden and made a long dribble to the center of the field. She converted on a shot from inside the 18 to the left side. Not only did the goal move UCF in front 2-1, the score was Thomas' third in as many games.
The Knights kept Rice off the board for the remainder of the contest to hold on to sole possession of first place in the C-USA standings. UCF improved to 11-3-1 overall and 6-1 against the league.
"We knew UCF is a very good team," said Rice head coach Chris Huston. "I thought we played a better second half than we did in the first half. When we finally settled down, we created some good opportunities. I saw a lot of positives and some good individual efforts that we can take from this game. We have to come right back and be ready to play another tough conference game Sunday."
Rice is now 3-10-2 on the season and 1-6-0 in C-USA play. The Owls next host C-USA foe Southern Miss on Sunday (Oct. 18) to complete the current four-game homestand. Start time with the Golden Eagles is set for 1 pm at the Rice Soccer Stadium.
The game's box score appears at the above link.
Team Stats
WHIDDEN, Courtney (8)
Assisted By: RADOVCIC, Nicolette
from close range after cross
17:02
Korey Taylor (3)
Assisted By: Erin Scott
in front to right-side netting
51:27
THOMAS, Becca (3)
Assisted By: WHIDDEN, Courtney
inside 18 to left side
69:43
