No. 16 Rice Soccer Opens 2021 Season with 4-0 Shutout of Sam Houston State

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HOUSTON — Rice scored three goals in the first eight minutes on its way to a 4-0 victory over Sam Houston State in both team's 2021 season opener, Thursday night at Holloway Field.

The Details
After allowing the first shot, Rice wasted no time turning up the pressure. Following a foul, Bella Killgore took a free kick, sending a perfect ball right towards the front of the net where Vyviene Spaulding was waiting to punch the ball past the goalkeeper for her first career goal. A minute and a half later, Caleigh Boeckx sent a pass from midfield to Serena Pham, who immediately tipped the ball over to a waiting Delaney Schultz, sending a shot just over the leaping goalkeeper for the second goal. But the Owls didn't let up. Just three minutes later, Spaulding sent a shot from just outside the box past the goalkeeper, but a Sam Houston State defender was there to stop it. However, she kicked the ball straight to Schultz, who planted it in a wide open net for her second goal of the game. Rice added its fourth goal of the half in the 21^st minute off Schultz's corner kick when Catarina Albuquerque found Natalie Gorji in a pile in front of the net where she was able to knock it past the SHSU netminder. The Owls kept the pressure on the second half, playing the majority of the half in the offensive zone while adding 16 shots to protect the lead.

What Brian Lee Had to Say
"We started off the game fantastic. Coming out of preseason and the two scrimmages, we felt really good about the first one but we didn't feel great about how we started the second. It was a point of emphasis tonight; to come out strong. Three goals in eight minutes certainly does that. We wanted to play in their end, number one, and I thought we did a good job of that, especially in the second half as we tried to kill off the game. But the backline gets better and better each game. It's good to have (Caleigh) Boeckx back and Bella (Killgore) had another solid performance, too."

Up Next
Rice closes its season opening homestand this Sunday, August 22, when it hosts Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m.

Notes
• D Natalie Diaz, MF Mariana Elizondo and MF Kennedy Hart all made their first career appearances.
• Elizondo also made her first career start.
• Rice has won its last three season openers.
• Rice's four goals are the most in a season opener in school history.
• Rice recorded a shutout in its season opener for the fourth time in school history and the first time since 2008.
• The Owls held a 29-to-6 advantage in total shots, including a 16-to-0 advantage in shots on goal.
• The 16 shots on goal is tied for the seventh-most in school history.
• It is also the first time that Rice held the opposition without a shot on goal since Feb. 21, 2021 against Texas Southern.
• MF Delaney Schultz scored two goals, recording a multi-goal game for the first time in her career.
• Schultz moved into 10^th-place in school history in career goals with 14, tying Samantha Conn (2004-07) and Gabriela Iribarne (2011-14)
• Schultz also added an assist to give her five points.
• With the five points, Schultz moved into a tie for ninth-place in school history with 42, tying Annie Walker (2015-18), Lianne Mananquil (2016-19).
• Schultz and F Izzy McBride led all players with six shots.
• F Vyviene Spaulding opened the scoring with her first career goal.
• GK Bella Killgore recorded her first career assist.
• F Natalie Gorji closed the scoring with her fourth career goal.
• MF Caleigh Boeckx recorded her first career assist.
• MF Catarina Albuquerque recorded her third career assist.

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