Soccer Battles Baylor To 1-1 Tie Friday Night

Friday, August 21

Rice Track/Soccer Stadium

7:00 PM

Rice University

0-0-1

Baylor

0-0-1

OT 3

OT 4

Baylor

Rice

Soccer Battles Baylor To 1-1 Tie Friday Night

8/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Aug. 21, 2009

Box Score

HOUSTON -- Rice senior forward Erin Scott scored the game-tying goal in the second half as the Owls and visiting Baylor soccer teams battled to a 1-1 deadlock in the season-opening game for both teams Friday night on-campus at the Rice Soccer Stadium.

After lightning in the area delayed the start for almost two hours, the longtime regional rivals did their part to play as close to the witching-hour as they could. The tie held for the full 90 minutes plus two 10-minute overtimes. Both teams will now have to wait a little bit longer for that first win. The ray of sunshine, and there weren't many of those around the originally scheduled game time in the Houston area, was that both teams are still unbeaten.

Baylor struck first with the game's opening score. In the 18th minute Rice goalkeeper Meghan Erkel and Bear freshman Hanna Gilmore collided in front of the goal which stopped one Baylor offensive threat, but Lotto Smith charged in and alertly played the deflection to create another. Smith found the back of the Rice net with a shot from inside the 18 to give Baylor a 1-0 lead.

Rice managed only four shots in the first half, but doubled-up its offensive pressure with eight shots in the second. The Owls' north-Texas senior tandem of Scott and Ashley Lucas converted on a corner kick to tie the game in the 49th minute. Scott cut in front of the goal and Lucas found her leaping in the traffic with a brilliant serve. Scott headed the ball from the right side to left for the game-tying goal.

The score was the 19th of Scott's career, moving her into sole possession of third place on the Rice's career goals list. The standout from Richardson, Tex., now needs just one more goal to move into a tie for second place in the Owl ledgers and three more to tie Sarah Yoder's school record 22 set in 2004.

Scott may not have inched-up any further on the career goals list Friday, but it wasn't for a lack of trying. In her 105 minutes of action she led the Blue & Gray with six shots, including three on-goal. The school record for career shots will also be within her sites in a few short weeks.

Lucas played only 79 of the game's 110 minutes and took three shots with two on-goal. She made the most of her opportunities, and with good reason. The veteran from Dallas was injured in 2008 and has played in only three college games the last two years. Her assist on Scott's score was her first since 2006 - when a lot of her teammates on the current roster were still in high school.

Rice had plenty of silver linings behind the night's early lightning. Senior defender Katelyn Ostendorf also returned to action after missing almost all of last season with an injury. Not only was she back at full speed, but was one of five Owls to play all 110 minutes. Four freshmen meanwhile, Megan Aultman, Julia Barrow, Victoria Rellas and Alex Burton, made their respective collegiate debuts and played well.

The Owls out-shot Baylor in the two-overtime periods by a combined total of 8-4. Rice also held an 11-8 advantage in corner kicks for the entire game. Neither team was able to get in front on the scoreboard in the 1-1 draw.

Rice soccer takes to the road for each of its next three games, including two in the city of Milwaukee the weekend of Aug. 28-30. The Owls face Marquette at 7:30 pm on Aug. 28. The Blue & Gray meet UW-Milwaukee at noon on Aug. 30.