Friday, August 27
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
3-0-0, 0-0-0
2
at
1
Houston Baptist
0-2-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Rice
0
2
2
Houston Baptist
1
0
1
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Second Half Offense Leads Rice to 2-1 Comeback Victory at Houston Baptist
8/28/2021 12:13:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HOUSTON — Rice scored two second half goals in a four minute span to earn a 2-1 comeback victory at Houston Baptist, Friday night at Sorrels Field.
The Details
The game started as a back-and-forth affair. HBU got the first shot away, but the Owls applied pressure over the next 15 minutes. However, despite the play in the offensive zone, they were only able to get two shots away, neither of which were on goal. The Huskies came right back, getting three quick shots on goal, the last of which was by Noor Abukishk as she slipped behind the Rice defense and poked a shot past Bella Killgore to hand Rice its first deficit of the year, 1-0, in the 23rd minute. Rice then came back with three straight corner kicks, but only Vyviene Spaulding was able to get a shot away, a header that went over the net. Houston Baptist had a chance to extend its lead just before halftime, but Killgore came up with a big save to keep the deficit at one heading into the break.
Rice came out and immediately fired off three shots, including Mariana Elizondo's rebound that HBU goalkeeper Karla Ramirez was able to get a hand on, knocking it off the crossbar. Six minutes later, Spaulding sent a cross from deep on the right side toward the net, but Ramirez got to the ball just before Serena Pham was able to get a foot on it. The Owls kept the pressure on. In the 64th minute, Izzy McBride stole the ball, came down the right side and sent a shot that rang off the crossbar. But Rice finally broke through in the 70th minute. Natalie Gorji's shot from in close initially hit just under the crossbar, but it ended up bouncing in, tying the game at one. The Owls wasted no time jumping out in front. Just four minutes later, Caleigh Page knocked in Schultz's corner kick to give Rice the 2-1 lead. HBU had one final chance to send the game to overtime in the 87th minute, as Bryce Reynolds sent a shot from the middle of the field. However, Killgore dove to the right to snag it and secure the Owl victory.
What Brian Lee Had to Say
"Truth be told, I thought in the first 10-15 minutes, stylistically, we had a good start. Maybe the best that we've had all year. But, we had zero end product and no urgency to get the goals. So, it looked attractive and (we were) getting around the corners, but everything was a little bit hopeful. HBU really got back into the game in the middle of the first half and it was fair for us to be down 1-0 at the half. But at halftime, we had a chance to regroup. We switched things tactically just a little bit to give us a better chance. Our kids character is very, very high individually which helps the team in the end. So I'm super proud of them to come back on a tough night."
Up Next
Rice begins a stretch of five consecutive home games this Sunday, Aug. 29, when it welcomes Northwestern State to Holloway Field. Match time is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the match will be livestreamed by CUSAtv.
Notes
• F Shelby Desroches made her first start of the year.
• Rice has started 3-0 for the second straight year and just the third time overall.
• The Owls won their road opener for the fourth consecutive season.
• Rice improved to 5-0-0 all-time against Houston Baptist. This was the first game at HBU's Sorrels Field.
• Rice has won 11 straight matches against the Southland Conference and is 32-4-2 all-time against the SLC.
• The Owls held a 16-to-10 advantage in total shots and a 6-to-5 advantage in shots on goal.
• Rice recorded a season-high nine corner kicks.
• F Natalie Gorji recorded her second goal of the year and the fifth of her career.
• D Caleigh Page scored her first goal of the year and the second of her career.
• Both of Page's career goals were game-winners.
• F Caleigh Boeckx recorded her second assist of the year.
• MF Delaney Schultz assisted on both goals, giving her three on the year and 16 in her career.
• It was her third career multi-assist match.
• With two assists, Schultz tied Annie Walker (2015-18) for eighth-place in school history.
• Schultz now has 44 career points, tying her with Kate Edwards (2007-10) for seventh-place in school history.
• F Vyviene Spaulding had a team-high three shots.
• GK Bella Killgore made four saves to move to 3-0 on the year.
The Details
The game started as a back-and-forth affair. HBU got the first shot away, but the Owls applied pressure over the next 15 minutes. However, despite the play in the offensive zone, they were only able to get two shots away, neither of which were on goal. The Huskies came right back, getting three quick shots on goal, the last of which was by Noor Abukishk as she slipped behind the Rice defense and poked a shot past Bella Killgore to hand Rice its first deficit of the year, 1-0, in the 23rd minute. Rice then came back with three straight corner kicks, but only Vyviene Spaulding was able to get a shot away, a header that went over the net. Houston Baptist had a chance to extend its lead just before halftime, but Killgore came up with a big save to keep the deficit at one heading into the break.
Rice came out and immediately fired off three shots, including Mariana Elizondo's rebound that HBU goalkeeper Karla Ramirez was able to get a hand on, knocking it off the crossbar. Six minutes later, Spaulding sent a cross from deep on the right side toward the net, but Ramirez got to the ball just before Serena Pham was able to get a foot on it. The Owls kept the pressure on. In the 64th minute, Izzy McBride stole the ball, came down the right side and sent a shot that rang off the crossbar. But Rice finally broke through in the 70th minute. Natalie Gorji's shot from in close initially hit just under the crossbar, but it ended up bouncing in, tying the game at one. The Owls wasted no time jumping out in front. Just four minutes later, Caleigh Page knocked in Schultz's corner kick to give Rice the 2-1 lead. HBU had one final chance to send the game to overtime in the 87th minute, as Bryce Reynolds sent a shot from the middle of the field. However, Killgore dove to the right to snag it and secure the Owl victory.
What Brian Lee Had to Say
"Truth be told, I thought in the first 10-15 minutes, stylistically, we had a good start. Maybe the best that we've had all year. But, we had zero end product and no urgency to get the goals. So, it looked attractive and (we were) getting around the corners, but everything was a little bit hopeful. HBU really got back into the game in the middle of the first half and it was fair for us to be down 1-0 at the half. But at halftime, we had a chance to regroup. We switched things tactically just a little bit to give us a better chance. Our kids character is very, very high individually which helps the team in the end. So I'm super proud of them to come back on a tough night."
Up Next
Rice begins a stretch of five consecutive home games this Sunday, Aug. 29, when it welcomes Northwestern State to Holloway Field. Match time is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the match will be livestreamed by CUSAtv.
Notes
• F Shelby Desroches made her first start of the year.
• Rice has started 3-0 for the second straight year and just the third time overall.
• The Owls won their road opener for the fourth consecutive season.
• Rice improved to 5-0-0 all-time against Houston Baptist. This was the first game at HBU's Sorrels Field.
• Rice has won 11 straight matches against the Southland Conference and is 32-4-2 all-time against the SLC.
• The Owls held a 16-to-10 advantage in total shots and a 6-to-5 advantage in shots on goal.
• Rice recorded a season-high nine corner kicks.
• F Natalie Gorji recorded her second goal of the year and the fifth of her career.
• D Caleigh Page scored her first goal of the year and the second of her career.
• Both of Page's career goals were game-winners.
• F Caleigh Boeckx recorded her second assist of the year.
• MF Delaney Schultz assisted on both goals, giving her three on the year and 16 in her career.
• It was her third career multi-assist match.
• With two assists, Schultz tied Annie Walker (2015-18) for eighth-place in school history.
• Schultz now has 44 career points, tying her with Kate Edwards (2007-10) for seventh-place in school history.
• F Vyviene Spaulding had a team-high three shots.
• GK Bella Killgore made four saves to move to 3-0 on the year.
Team Stats
RICE
HBU
Goals
2
1
Shots
16
10
Shots on Goal
6
5
Saves
4
4
Corners
9
2
Fouls
7
5
Scoring Plays
Abukishk, Noor (1)
Assisted By: Nevils, Jessica
GOAL by HBU Abukishk, Noor (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Nevils, Jessica, goal number 1 for season.
23:27
Gorji, Natalie (2)
Assisted By: Boeckx, Caleigh , Schultz, Delaney
GOAL by RICE Gorji, Natalie, Assist by Boeckx, Caleigh and Schultz, Delaney, goal number 2 for season.
71:22
Page, Caleigh (1)
Assisted By: Schultz, Delaney
GOAL by RICE Page, Caleigh, Assist by Schultz, Delaney, goal number 1 for season.
75:04
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
F
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