Friday, March 19
Ruston, LA
7 pm
Rice University
at
Louisiana Tech
Soccer Plays Friday At LA Tech
3/18/2021 4:24:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Owls On The Road In West Division Clash
RICE SOCCER at LA TECH | March 19 at 7 PM | Watch | Live Stats
(Internet features activate at game time)
Rice returns to Conference USA league play with a West Division match this week. The Owls travel to Ruston, Louisiana, to face LA Tech at 7 pm on Friday (March 19). The C-USA showdown is Rice's lone match of the week.
QUICK ON THE OWLS (5-2-0, 1-1-0): The 2020-21 Rice soccer team returns eight of 11 starters from last season's squad that went 10-6-3 and won a game in the Conference USA Tournament. The Owls return a total of 20 letterwinners from a year ago and welcome in a talented new recruiting class.
20th SEASON OF RICE SOCCER: It may have taken a little extra time to get here, but the 20th anniversary season of Rice Owls Soccer has arrived! After starting a full-scholarship soccer program for the first time in 2001, the fall of 2020 was expected to be the 20th anniversary season of the program. Soccer and a lot of sports around the college landscape, however, were delayed due to the world-wide illness. The NCAA is sanctioning spring soccer this semester with a national championship tournament scheduled for the end of the regular season.
OWL IN: The Owl In logo represents the continued commitment of Rice Athletics' student-athletes, coaches, and staff to come together for positive change throughout our department, campus, and world. With increased efforts in education, policy development, and action as it relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, members of the Rice Athletics community will become better equipped to ensure we can fulfill our department's desire to be a more inclusive and welcoming place. To learn more about being Owl In, visit RiceOwls.com/OwlIn.
COACH'S CORNER: Rice soccer is under the direction of head coach Brian Lee, who is in his second season at the helm of the program. A 2018 finalist for National Coach of the Year and with more than 25 years of experience as a Division I head coach, Lee enters this week's action with a career record of 302-196-58. Lee's Rice coaching staff includes Megan Kinneman, Travis Curson and new volunteer assistant Lianne Mananquil. Coach Lee previews the upcoming match in the above video.
SERIES HISTORY vs. LA TECH: Rice leads the series with Louisiana Tech, 6-0-1. The lone tie in the series was a 2-2 double-overtime stalemate in Ruston during the 2019 season. The Owls have won twice in Ruston, including the inaugural meeting in 2013 by a score of 3-0 and by a 4-0 margin in 2016. The Blue & Gray have defeated the Bulldogs three times at Holloway field and once at a neutral site while playing in the 2014 C-USA Tournament.
DID YOU KNOW?: Rice has not hosted La Tech at Holloway Field since 2018.
LAST TIME OUT: With just 17 seconds remaining in overtime, senior Caleigh Page scored the first goal of her collegiate career to help lift the Rice Soccer team to a dramatic 3-2 victory over No. 12 ranked Texas A&M late Monday night at Holloway Field in Houston. For the third time in as many games, including last week's outings against North Texas and Houston, Rice fell behind 2-0 in the first half. The only wrinkle this time was that both Texas A&M goals were strikingly close together in the 31st minute. Just 13 seconds separated the Aggie scores by Macie Kolb and Taylor Ziemer for a 2-0 advantage. Unlike the previous two games, however, Rice rallied for a goal just before halftime. With 18 seconds ticking down until the intermission, senior Haley Kostyshyn found a seam from the right side to serve Delaney Schultz by the six yard box. Schultz didn't have much time to settle and fire away on a shot that found the back of the Aggie net for her first goal of the season. The late goal provided an emotional lift that seemed to carry into the second half where the Owls found an early but unlikely equalizer. Senior defender Mijke Roelfsema bringing the ball forward into the midfield from her spot on the Owl backline is common enough. The uncommon play this time was as Roelfsema dribbled the ball near the center circle she suddenly unleashed a surprise rocket shot attempt. The strike caught the defense off guard and the ball sailed into the upper corner of the Aggie net for a new 2-2 game. Texas A&M continued to apply plenty offensive pressure with 14 second half shots, but Owl keeper Bella Killgore made four of her ten saves in the period to keep A&M off the board. Regulation expired with the score 2-2, sending Rice to its first overtime match of the year. The defenses held for the first nine and a half minutes of overtime and a second OT seemed to be a certainty, but as the clock ticked the ball bounded off an A&M defender across the left endline. Rice hustled to organize a set piece as Schultz sprinted away to take corner. She served a line drive into traffic in front of the goal, where Page was able to separate and put the ball into the back of the net for the 'golden goal' victory.
Notes & Stats From Previous Match
• The win over Texas A&M was the Owls' first over a Top 12 ranked program since beating No. 8 Texas at Holloway Field in 2006.
• The victory was Rice's first over Texas A&M in six meetings dating back to the start of the series in 2002.
• It was Rice's first win in overtime since defeating Florida Atlantic 1-0 in the 97th minute in 2016.
• Rice overcame a 2-0 deficit to win a match for the first time since rallying past Mississippi State 3-2 in 2006.
• Page's goal was her first as an Owl. The defender from California had taken only one other shot attempt all year.
• Roelfsema's goal was only her second as an Owl, but also her second in a week. She scored On March 7 taking a corner kick in the 82nd minute against North Texas.
• Goalkeeper Bella Killgore finished the night with a career-high ten saves. It's the most by an Owl keeper since 2010.
• Texas A&M held a 32-18 advantage in shots, and a 9-4 margin in corner kicks.
• The crowd was a season-high 250 that was limited due to Covid restrictions.
C-USA PRESEASON ACCOLADES: IRVING, Texas – Led by the duo of Mijke Roelfsema and Delaney Schultz as preseason Conference USA honorees, the Rice soccer team was picked to finish second in the C-USA West Division in the league's head coaches' poll announced on January 26. The preseason all-conference honors and ranking were determined on a vote of the 14 C-USA head soccer coaches. It is the eighth-straight year for Rice to be picked to finish among the league's Top 3 teams in the annual head coaches' poll. Defending regular season co-champions North Texas and Florida Atlantic were picked to finish first in the league's West and East Divisions, respectively.
SEC STANDOUT JOINS OWLS: Coach Lee announced the addition of SEC junior transfer Serena Pham to the Owls' roster, to be eligible for competition starting the Fall of 2021. Pham, a midfielder originally from Chantilly, Virginia, played the previous two seasons at Alabama (2019-2020). She appeared in a total of 28 matches for the Crimson Tide with 15 starting assignments. In 2019 Pham recorded the most assists by a freshman in Alabama soccer history (6). Two of her assists in 2019 were on both Tide goals in the 2-1 win at Rice on August 29. It is also worth noting the program has enjoyed great success when ACC transfer Mijke Roelfsema (originally at Boston College and now an Owl senior) joined Rice in Lee's first year at the helm of the program.
(Internet features activate at game time)
Rice returns to Conference USA league play with a West Division match this week. The Owls travel to Ruston, Louisiana, to face LA Tech at 7 pm on Friday (March 19). The C-USA showdown is Rice's lone match of the week.
QUICK ON THE OWLS (5-2-0, 1-1-0): The 2020-21 Rice soccer team returns eight of 11 starters from last season's squad that went 10-6-3 and won a game in the Conference USA Tournament. The Owls return a total of 20 letterwinners from a year ago and welcome in a talented new recruiting class.
20th SEASON OF RICE SOCCER: It may have taken a little extra time to get here, but the 20th anniversary season of Rice Owls Soccer has arrived! After starting a full-scholarship soccer program for the first time in 2001, the fall of 2020 was expected to be the 20th anniversary season of the program. Soccer and a lot of sports around the college landscape, however, were delayed due to the world-wide illness. The NCAA is sanctioning spring soccer this semester with a national championship tournament scheduled for the end of the regular season.
OWL IN: The Owl In logo represents the continued commitment of Rice Athletics' student-athletes, coaches, and staff to come together for positive change throughout our department, campus, and world. With increased efforts in education, policy development, and action as it relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, members of the Rice Athletics community will become better equipped to ensure we can fulfill our department's desire to be a more inclusive and welcoming place. To learn more about being Owl In, visit RiceOwls.com/OwlIn.
COACH'S CORNER: Rice soccer is under the direction of head coach Brian Lee, who is in his second season at the helm of the program. A 2018 finalist for National Coach of the Year and with more than 25 years of experience as a Division I head coach, Lee enters this week's action with a career record of 302-196-58. Lee's Rice coaching staff includes Megan Kinneman, Travis Curson and new volunteer assistant Lianne Mananquil. Coach Lee previews the upcoming match in the above video.
SERIES HISTORY vs. LA TECH: Rice leads the series with Louisiana Tech, 6-0-1. The lone tie in the series was a 2-2 double-overtime stalemate in Ruston during the 2019 season. The Owls have won twice in Ruston, including the inaugural meeting in 2013 by a score of 3-0 and by a 4-0 margin in 2016. The Blue & Gray have defeated the Bulldogs three times at Holloway field and once at a neutral site while playing in the 2014 C-USA Tournament.
DID YOU KNOW?: Rice has not hosted La Tech at Holloway Field since 2018.
LAST TIME OUT: With just 17 seconds remaining in overtime, senior Caleigh Page scored the first goal of her collegiate career to help lift the Rice Soccer team to a dramatic 3-2 victory over No. 12 ranked Texas A&M late Monday night at Holloway Field in Houston. For the third time in as many games, including last week's outings against North Texas and Houston, Rice fell behind 2-0 in the first half. The only wrinkle this time was that both Texas A&M goals were strikingly close together in the 31st minute. Just 13 seconds separated the Aggie scores by Macie Kolb and Taylor Ziemer for a 2-0 advantage. Unlike the previous two games, however, Rice rallied for a goal just before halftime. With 18 seconds ticking down until the intermission, senior Haley Kostyshyn found a seam from the right side to serve Delaney Schultz by the six yard box. Schultz didn't have much time to settle and fire away on a shot that found the back of the Aggie net for her first goal of the season. The late goal provided an emotional lift that seemed to carry into the second half where the Owls found an early but unlikely equalizer. Senior defender Mijke Roelfsema bringing the ball forward into the midfield from her spot on the Owl backline is common enough. The uncommon play this time was as Roelfsema dribbled the ball near the center circle she suddenly unleashed a surprise rocket shot attempt. The strike caught the defense off guard and the ball sailed into the upper corner of the Aggie net for a new 2-2 game. Texas A&M continued to apply plenty offensive pressure with 14 second half shots, but Owl keeper Bella Killgore made four of her ten saves in the period to keep A&M off the board. Regulation expired with the score 2-2, sending Rice to its first overtime match of the year. The defenses held for the first nine and a half minutes of overtime and a second OT seemed to be a certainty, but as the clock ticked the ball bounded off an A&M defender across the left endline. Rice hustled to organize a set piece as Schultz sprinted away to take corner. She served a line drive into traffic in front of the goal, where Page was able to separate and put the ball into the back of the net for the 'golden goal' victory.
Notes & Stats From Previous Match
• The win over Texas A&M was the Owls' first over a Top 12 ranked program since beating No. 8 Texas at Holloway Field in 2006.
• The victory was Rice's first over Texas A&M in six meetings dating back to the start of the series in 2002.
• It was Rice's first win in overtime since defeating Florida Atlantic 1-0 in the 97th minute in 2016.
• Rice overcame a 2-0 deficit to win a match for the first time since rallying past Mississippi State 3-2 in 2006.
• Page's goal was her first as an Owl. The defender from California had taken only one other shot attempt all year.
• Roelfsema's goal was only her second as an Owl, but also her second in a week. She scored On March 7 taking a corner kick in the 82nd minute against North Texas.
• Goalkeeper Bella Killgore finished the night with a career-high ten saves. It's the most by an Owl keeper since 2010.
• Texas A&M held a 32-18 advantage in shots, and a 9-4 margin in corner kicks.
• The crowd was a season-high 250 that was limited due to Covid restrictions.
C-USA PRESEASON ACCOLADES: IRVING, Texas – Led by the duo of Mijke Roelfsema and Delaney Schultz as preseason Conference USA honorees, the Rice soccer team was picked to finish second in the C-USA West Division in the league's head coaches' poll announced on January 26. The preseason all-conference honors and ranking were determined on a vote of the 14 C-USA head soccer coaches. It is the eighth-straight year for Rice to be picked to finish among the league's Top 3 teams in the annual head coaches' poll. Defending regular season co-champions North Texas and Florida Atlantic were picked to finish first in the league's West and East Divisions, respectively.
SEC STANDOUT JOINS OWLS: Coach Lee announced the addition of SEC junior transfer Serena Pham to the Owls' roster, to be eligible for competition starting the Fall of 2021. Pham, a midfielder originally from Chantilly, Virginia, played the previous two seasons at Alabama (2019-2020). She appeared in a total of 28 matches for the Crimson Tide with 15 starting assignments. In 2019 Pham recorded the most assists by a freshman in Alabama soccer history (6). Two of her assists in 2019 were on both Tide goals in the 2-1 win at Rice on August 29. It is also worth noting the program has enjoyed great success when ACC transfer Mijke Roelfsema (originally at Boston College and now an Owl senior) joined Rice in Lee's first year at the helm of the program.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
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