Late Rice Goal Leads to 2-1 Victory Over Louisiana Tech

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HOUSTON — Second year freshman midfielder Catarina Albuquerque picked a perfect time for her first goal of the season, scoring in the 80^th minute to break a tie game and give No. 24 Rice a 2-1 victory over Louisiana Tech, Friday night at Holloway Field.

The Details
In the first 15 minutes, Rice twice tried to release Caleigh Boeckx for an open shot. But both times, La Tech goalkeeper Libe Banuelos got to the ball first. Rice finally connected in the 16^th minute when, off a corner kick, Delaney Schultz's header went off the crossbar and, following Caleigh Page's shot, Serena Pham put the ball just over a leaping Banuelos to give Rice the lead. The Owls almost added to it in the 29^th minute when Ziyana Samanani headed the ball toward the net, but a Louisiana Tech defender was able to clear it before it crossed the line and Rice entered halftime with a 1-0 lead.

As the second half began, the Lady Techsters wasted no time applying pressure, recording four shots, including two on goal, in the first three minutes. Five minutes later, junior midfielder Madison Kent was sent down the right side. But her shot attempt sailed over the net. In the 60^th minute, La Tech took advantage of a Rice miscue to tie the game. Vyviene Spaulding tried to clear the defensive zone, but ended up kicking the ball directly into Samanani. It bounced straight to Morgan Miller who fired it past goalkeeper Bella Killgore, knotting the game at one. The teams battled over the next 20 minutes, but in the 80^th minute, Rice was awarded a corner kick. Schultz sent a perfect corner toward the net where Albuquerque headed the ball into the right corner, giving the Owls the lead. Rice held on in the final 10 minutes for the victory.

What Brian Lee Had to Say
"We came out playing really, really well to start the game. I thought Serena (Pham) took the goal very well. The whole first half, I thought, was excellent. In the second half, I thought we came out flat. Louisiana Tech, a credit to them, came out fighting like you would expect in a conference game. Their goal was deserved. It was a very bad bounce. It was unlucky with the clearance going straight to them. But, in the flow of the game, they deserved that goal. It kind of got our heads back in it. The header from (Catarina Albuquerque) has been something we've been working on. It was a good finish by her and a good delivery by Delaney (Schultz)."

Up Next
Rice goes on the road next Saturday, Oct. 2, when it travels to Bowling Green, Ky., to face WKU. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be livestreamed on Facebook.

Notes
• Rice improved to 8-2-1 on the season and 2-0-0 in Conference USA.
• Rice improved to 8-0-1 all-time against Louisiana Tech and 4-0-0 in matches played in Houston
• Rice has started 2-0 in C-USA for the first time since 2017 and the seventh time overall.
• Rice is 11-6-0 all-time in C-USA home openers and 12-9 all-time in home league openers.
• The Owls were outshot 16-to-14 but held a 9-to-7 advantage in shots on goal.
• MF Serena Pham scored her first goal at Rice and her fourth career goal.
• MF Catarina Albuquerque scored her first goal of the season and the fourth of her career.
• It was also her third career game-winning goal.
• D Caleigh Page recorded her third assist of the season and the fourth of her career.
• MF Delaney Schultz recorded her team-leading sixth assist of the season and the 19^th of her career.
• Schultz has passed Erin Scott (2006-09) and tied Jenny Fichera (2013-16) for sixth-place on Rice's career assist list.
• Schultz led all players with three shots.
• GK Bella Killgore made six saves.

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