Thursday, September 16
El Paso, TX
8 p.m.
Rice University
7-1-1, 1-0-0
2
at
1
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UTEP
2-6-0, 0-1-0
1
2
F
Rice
2
0
2
UTEP
1
0
1
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
No. 20 Rice Starts Conference Play with 2-1 Victory at UTEP
9/16/2021 11:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer
El Paso, Texas — No. 20 Rice gave up an early goal but came right back to score two and earn a 2-1 victory over UTEP, Thursday night from University Field in both teams Conference USA opener.
The Details
UTEP jumped out to an early lead when, in the 10th minute, Molly Sutherland controlled the rebound off a corner kick and put the ball into the right corner. But just three minutes later, Rice tied it up when Natalie Gorji sent a cross from the right side toward the middle of the field and Caleigh Boeckx knocked it in. Rice took the lead in the 26th minute. After UTEP was called for a foul, Mijke Roelfsema's free kick went to Delaney Schultz who tipped it up to Ziyana Samanani for a header and her first career goal. UTEP had a chance to tie it in the 35th minute, but Jojo Ngongo's header just in front of Killgore went over the net and Rice went into halftime with a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, Boeckx came close to putting Rice up a pair in the 56th minute when she sent a shot from in front of the net just past the left post. The Owls picked up the pressure, recording four shots in a six-minute span. However, Rice tightened up their defense, holding the Miners to just one shot in the final 35 minutes to earn the victory.
What Brian Lee Had to Say
"UTEP came out really flying. It's their home game to start conference play. But I thought our response to their goal was excellent. (Caleigh) Boeckx was really composed in the box where she could settle (the ball). Then (Ziyana Samanani) has been close on headers off of corners all season. So it was really good to see her pound one in the back of the net. We had our chances to get the third (goal), but once we didn't we buckled down quite nicely to grind it out and get the three points."
Up Next
Rice closes its non-conference schedule this Sunday, Sept. 19, when it travels to Philadelphia, Pa., to face Penn. Match time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
Notes
• Rice improves to 7-1-1 on the season and 1-0-0 in Conference USA.
• Rice improved to 14-7-2 all-time against UTEP and 5-4-1 in El Paso.
• Rice won its third straight conference opener and is 12-5 all-time in C-USA openers.
• When opening on the road, Rice is 4-1.
• The Owls were outshot 10-to-9, but held a 4-to-3 advantage in shots on goal. It was just the second time this year that Rice was outshot.
• F/D Caleigh Boeckx scored her third goal of the season to tie the game in the first half. It was the eighth goal of her career.
• F Natalie Gorji recorded her first assist of the season and the second of her career.
• D Ziyana Samanani scored her first career goal, which turned out to be the game-winner.
• D Mijke Roelfsema recorded her second assist of the season and the seventh of her career.
• MF Delaney Schultz recorded her team-leading fifth assist of the season.
• It was also Schultz's 18th career assist, tying Erin Scott (2006-09) for seventh-place on Rice's all-time list.
The Details
UTEP jumped out to an early lead when, in the 10th minute, Molly Sutherland controlled the rebound off a corner kick and put the ball into the right corner. But just three minutes later, Rice tied it up when Natalie Gorji sent a cross from the right side toward the middle of the field and Caleigh Boeckx knocked it in. Rice took the lead in the 26th minute. After UTEP was called for a foul, Mijke Roelfsema's free kick went to Delaney Schultz who tipped it up to Ziyana Samanani for a header and her first career goal. UTEP had a chance to tie it in the 35th minute, but Jojo Ngongo's header just in front of Killgore went over the net and Rice went into halftime with a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, Boeckx came close to putting Rice up a pair in the 56th minute when she sent a shot from in front of the net just past the left post. The Owls picked up the pressure, recording four shots in a six-minute span. However, Rice tightened up their defense, holding the Miners to just one shot in the final 35 minutes to earn the victory.
What Brian Lee Had to Say
"UTEP came out really flying. It's their home game to start conference play. But I thought our response to their goal was excellent. (Caleigh) Boeckx was really composed in the box where she could settle (the ball). Then (Ziyana Samanani) has been close on headers off of corners all season. So it was really good to see her pound one in the back of the net. We had our chances to get the third (goal), but once we didn't we buckled down quite nicely to grind it out and get the three points."
Up Next
Rice closes its non-conference schedule this Sunday, Sept. 19, when it travels to Philadelphia, Pa., to face Penn. Match time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
Notes
• Rice improves to 7-1-1 on the season and 1-0-0 in Conference USA.
• Rice improved to 14-7-2 all-time against UTEP and 5-4-1 in El Paso.
• Rice won its third straight conference opener and is 12-5 all-time in C-USA openers.
• When opening on the road, Rice is 4-1.
• The Owls were outshot 10-to-9, but held a 4-to-3 advantage in shots on goal. It was just the second time this year that Rice was outshot.
• F/D Caleigh Boeckx scored her third goal of the season to tie the game in the first half. It was the eighth goal of her career.
• F Natalie Gorji recorded her first assist of the season and the second of her career.
• D Ziyana Samanani scored her first career goal, which turned out to be the game-winner.
• D Mijke Roelfsema recorded her second assist of the season and the seventh of her career.
• MF Delaney Schultz recorded her team-leading fifth assist of the season.
• It was also Schultz's 18th career assist, tying Erin Scott (2006-09) for seventh-place on Rice's all-time list.
Team Stats
RICE
UTEP
Goals
2
1
Shots
9
10
Shots on Goal
4
3
Saves
1
2
Corners
2
2
Fouls
6
12
Scoring Plays
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Molly Sutherland (1)
Assisted By: Cayman Tamez , Emerson Kidd
GOAL by UTEP Sutherland, Molly Assist by Tamez, Cayman and Kidd, Emerson.
10:05
Caleigh Boeckx (3)
Assisted By: Natalie Gorgi
GOAL by RICE Boeckx, Caleigh Assist by Gorgi, Natalie.
13:09
Ziyana Samanani (1)
Assisted By: Mijke Roelfsema , Delaney Schultz
GOAL by RICE Samanani, Ziyana Assist by Roelfsema, Mijke and Schultz, Delaney.
26:59
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerMF
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