Thursday, April 8
Houston
7 pm
Rice University
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UTEP
Soccer Seeks Division Crown Thursday Night
4/7/2021 12:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Owls Host Longtime Foe UTEP At 7 PM
5RICE SOCCER vs. UTEP | April 8 at 7 PM | Watch | Live Stats
(Internet features activate at game time)
Rice (9-2-0, 4-1-0) closes out the spring regular season and Conference USA schedule this week at Holloway Field. The Owls welcome longtime foe UTEP (3-5-2, 2-2-1) at 7 pm on Thursday, April 8. The C-USA showdown is Rice's lone match of the week before hosting the league tournament at Holloway Field April 13-17.
DIVISION TITLE ON THE LINE: Rice is 4-1-0 in C-USA play and tied for first place in the C-USA West Division standings with 12 points. The C-USA standings are based on earning three points for every league win and one point for finishing with a C-USA tie. The Owls are currently tied with Southern Miss (4-2-0, 12 points), but the Golden Eagles have already finished the spring's six-game C-USA schedule. Rice holds a two point lead over North Texas (3-1-1, 10 points). The Mean Green has a chance to reach 13 points with a win in its final game on Friday (April 9).
FOR THIS SEASON: Thanks to the Rice Crisis Management Team's approval of a set of protocols for outdoor athletic venues. Seating will be limited at the matches this spring and all tickets will be General Admission. Tickets will be distributed to season ticket members, player families and students. Fans will be required to wear masks at all times and sit six feet apart from the next group. There are no concessions at Holloway Field this season, but fans are allowed to bring food and drink provided they are masked unless actively eating or drinking. Parking for soccer is free in West Lot 6 or in the lot behind Tudor Fieldhouse on dates when there are no conflicting events at Tudor nor Reckling Park. Season tickets for the 2021 campaign are currently on sale. Season ticket members can renew their seats online at Riceowls.com/myaccount and new season tickets can be purchased here. Any ticketing questions should be directed to the ticket office by calling 713-348-6957 or emailing tickets@rice.edu
QUICK ON THE OWLS: 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 in in full swing! 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 306-196-58. Lee's Rice coaching staff includes Megan Kinneman, Travis Curson and new volunteer assistant Lianne Mananquil.
SERIES HISTORY vs. UTEP: Rice leads the series with UTEP 12-7-2. The series dates back to the Owls' first season of soccer in 2001 when the teams were members of the Western Athletic Conference. The Blue & Gray is 7-2-0 against UTEP when playing at Holloway Field. The Miners are making their first trip to Holloway Field since 2017.
DID YOU KNOW?: The 21 times to play UTEP is the most the Owls have played any one opponent, including state foes SMU (20 times) and Houston (15 times).
PREVIOUS OUTING: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — With no shortage of drama in a 1-0 overtime road victory at UAB (April 2), the Rice Soccer team moved into the driver's seat to clinch the division crown. C-USA West Division foes Rice and UAB were deadlocked 0-0 in a league match last Friday night on the road in Birmingham, Ala. The Blazers, who were unbeaten and untied in five home matches this season, were turning up the offensive pressure with a 7-4 shots advantage in the second half, but Owl goalkeeper Bella Killgore was sound and solid with four saves in the period (as well as an additional save she recorded in the first half). The teams remained scoreless at 90 minutes and headed into overtime. A little more than two weeks ago Rice came up big in overtime with a win over No. 12 ranked Texas A&M. Even when Killgore registered her sixth save of the night on a UAB corner in the 92nd minute, the outcome was far from certain. The Owls were empty on a corner kick in the 95th and UAB was off frame on a shot in the 96th. Finally in the 97th, Caleigh Boeckx played wide to Haley Kostyshyn on the right flank, who immediately drew the full attention of the UAB defenders. Kostyshyn dribbled to draw the Blazers a bit closer, then crossed it back to the far post. True freshman Mikala Furuto quickly smashed it to the back of the UAB net from close range. Her fifth team-leading fifth goal of the season secured the 1-0 overtime victory.
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 (9-2-0, 4-1-0) closes out the spring regular season and Conference USA schedule this week at Holloway Field. The Owls welcome longtime foe UTEP (3-5-2, 2-2-1) at 7 pm on Thursday, April 8. The C-USA showdown is Rice's lone match of the week before hosting the league tournament at Holloway Field April 13-17.
DIVISION TITLE ON THE LINE: Rice is 4-1-0 in C-USA play and tied for first place in the C-USA West Division standings with 12 points. The C-USA standings are based on earning three points for every league win and one point for finishing with a C-USA tie. The Owls are currently tied with Southern Miss (4-2-0, 12 points), but the Golden Eagles have already finished the spring's six-game C-USA schedule. Rice holds a two point lead over North Texas (3-1-1, 10 points). The Mean Green has a chance to reach 13 points with a win in its final game on Friday (April 9).
FOR THIS SEASON: Thanks to the Rice Crisis Management Team's approval of a set of protocols for outdoor athletic venues. Seating will be limited at the matches this spring and all tickets will be General Admission. Tickets will be distributed to season ticket members, player families and students. Fans will be required to wear masks at all times and sit six feet apart from the next group. There are no concessions at Holloway Field this season, but fans are allowed to bring food and drink provided they are masked unless actively eating or drinking. Parking for soccer is free in West Lot 6 or in the lot behind Tudor Fieldhouse on dates when there are no conflicting events at Tudor nor Reckling Park. Season tickets for the 2021 campaign are currently on sale. Season ticket members can renew their seats online at Riceowls.com/myaccount and new season tickets can be purchased here. Any ticketing questions should be directed to the ticket office by calling 713-348-6957 or emailing tickets@rice.edu
QUICK ON THE OWLS: 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 in in full swing! 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 306-196-58. Lee's Rice coaching staff includes Megan Kinneman, Travis Curson and new volunteer assistant Lianne Mananquil.
SERIES HISTORY vs. UTEP: Rice leads the series with UTEP 12-7-2. The series dates back to the Owls' first season of soccer in 2001 when the teams were members of the Western Athletic Conference. The Blue & Gray is 7-2-0 against UTEP when playing at Holloway Field. The Miners are making their first trip to Holloway Field since 2017.
DID YOU KNOW?: The 21 times to play UTEP is the most the Owls have played any one opponent, including state foes SMU (20 times) and Houston (15 times).
PREVIOUS OUTING: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — With no shortage of drama in a 1-0 overtime road victory at UAB (April 2), the Rice Soccer team moved into the driver's seat to clinch the division crown. C-USA West Division foes Rice and UAB were deadlocked 0-0 in a league match last Friday night on the road in Birmingham, Ala. The Blazers, who were unbeaten and untied in five home matches this season, were turning up the offensive pressure with a 7-4 shots advantage in the second half, but Owl goalkeeper Bella Killgore was sound and solid with four saves in the period (as well as an additional save she recorded in the first half). The teams remained scoreless at 90 minutes and headed into overtime. A little more than two weeks ago Rice came up big in overtime with a win over No. 12 ranked Texas A&M. Even when Killgore registered her sixth save of the night on a UAB corner in the 92nd minute, the outcome was far from certain. The Owls were empty on a corner kick in the 95th and UAB was off frame on a shot in the 96th. Finally in the 97th, Caleigh Boeckx played wide to Haley Kostyshyn on the right flank, who immediately drew the full attention of the UAB defenders. Kostyshyn dribbled to draw the Blazers a bit closer, then crossed it back to the far post. True freshman Mikala Furuto quickly smashed it to the back of the UAB net from close range. Her fifth team-leading fifth goal of the season secured the 1-0 overtime victory.
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
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