Rice Soccer Picked to Finish First in Conference USA
8/17/2022 1:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
HOUSTON — Led by Preseason all-conference selections Bella Killgore and Delaney Schultz, Rice Soccer was picked to win the Conference USA Championship, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Schultz was also selected as the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year.
The preseason team honors and ranking were determined by a vote of the 11 C-USA head soccer coaches. Rice earned seven of 11 first-place votes.
Last year, Schultz was named Conference USA Player and Midfielder of the Year. She was also named First Team All-CUSA and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region.
Schultz led the team and was second in Conference USA in goals (9), points (25), and shots (60) while also leading the team and placing fourth in C-USA with seven assists. Her 25 points and four game-winning goals are the fourth-most in a season in school history. She became the third player in school history with 20 goals and 20 assists in her career and scored or assisted on 64.0% of Rice's goals (16 or 25).
The St. Louis, Mo., native enters the season fourth in school history with 62 career points, fifth with 21 goals and 20 assists, sixth in shots (153), shots on goal (67), and game-winning goals (8), and seventh in shot percentage (.137).
Killgore was named United Soccer Coaches First Team All-South Region and Second Team All-Conference USA. She led C-USA with 103 saves, the second-most in a season in school history, and with an 85.8% save percentage. She also had a 0.88 goals against average, the fifth-lowest in the conference while recording four shutouts. Killgore became just the second goalkeeper in school history with back-to-back 10-win seasons, playing every minute of the season for the second consecutive year.
The Houston native enters the season second in school history with 286 career saves, 35 wins, and 5,808:04 goalkeeper minutes played. She's also sixth with a 0.99 goals against average.
The Owls begin the 2022 season tomorrow, Aug. 18 at No. 23 SMU (7 p.m.). The home schedule begins Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. against Samford.
Schultz was also selected as the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year.
The preseason team honors and ranking were determined by a vote of the 11 C-USA head soccer coaches. Rice earned seven of 11 first-place votes.
Last year, Schultz was named Conference USA Player and Midfielder of the Year. She was also named First Team All-CUSA and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region.
Schultz led the team and was second in Conference USA in goals (9), points (25), and shots (60) while also leading the team and placing fourth in C-USA with seven assists. Her 25 points and four game-winning goals are the fourth-most in a season in school history. She became the third player in school history with 20 goals and 20 assists in her career and scored or assisted on 64.0% of Rice's goals (16 or 25).
The St. Louis, Mo., native enters the season fourth in school history with 62 career points, fifth with 21 goals and 20 assists, sixth in shots (153), shots on goal (67), and game-winning goals (8), and seventh in shot percentage (.137).
Killgore was named United Soccer Coaches First Team All-South Region and Second Team All-Conference USA. She led C-USA with 103 saves, the second-most in a season in school history, and with an 85.8% save percentage. She also had a 0.88 goals against average, the fifth-lowest in the conference while recording four shutouts. Killgore became just the second goalkeeper in school history with back-to-back 10-win seasons, playing every minute of the season for the second consecutive year.
The Houston native enters the season second in school history with 286 career saves, 35 wins, and 5,808:04 goalkeeper minutes played. She's also sixth with a 0.99 goals against average.
The Owls begin the 2022 season tomorrow, Aug. 18 at No. 23 SMU (7 p.m.). The home schedule begins Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. against Samford.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02