Sunday, September 18
Houston, TX
11 a.m.
Rice University
3-7-0, 2-0-0
3
vs
0
FIU
2-4-1, 0-1-1
1
2
F
FIU
0
0
0
Rice
1
2
3
Photo by: ©Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Rice Blanks FIU, 3-0
9/18/2022 2:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer
HOUSTON — Rice got goals from Serena Pham, Bella Killgore, and Jules Johnston and Killgore recorded her second shutout of the season as the Owls blanked FIU, 3-0, Sunday afternoon from Holloway Field.
The Details
Rice came close to scoring early in the fourth minute when Madi Allen headed a throw-in toward the net, but an FIU defender was able to knock it away before it cross the goal line. But the Owls cracked the scoreboard six minutes later. Kallie McKinney found Serena Pham, who beat the defender and fired a shot into the top right corner for the opening goal. Killgore kept the score at one, making two straight saves in the next five minutes. But play slowed down during the rest of the half as Rice took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Rice doubled its lead early in the second half. In the 56th minute, after FIU was called for a foul in the box, Killgore put the ensuing penalty kick into the left side of the net. The Panthers came close to cutting into the deficit just two minutes later when Chinatsu Kaio's shot hit the crossbar and Nikole Solis put the rebound over the net. Jules Johnston came close to her first career goal in the 65th minute when she battled goalkeeper Ithaisa Vinoly, but Vinoly corralled the ball before Johnston could put it in. But five minutes later, Johnston wouldn't miss when a Vinoly miscue left her with a wide-open net, sliding it in for the third goal of the match. Killgore then came up with two big saves, including one from point-blank range, securing the shutout.
What Head Coach Brian Lee Had to Say
"We had another good start to the game. We're still finding ourselves. We returned a bunch of players in the last couple of games. We were hoping to be healthy by the start of conference play and it's paying off. Serena (Pham) is making a big impact. Delaney (Schultz) looks great, and Kallie McKinney is back in action. So, hopefully, we can continue on this path."
Up Next
Rice will take a week off before returning to the pitch next Sunday, September 25, when it travels to Ruston, La., to face Louisiana Tech. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed on CUSAtv.
Notes
• This was the sixth meeting between Rice and FIU, and the first since 2019.
• The Owls hold a 4-2-0 record, including a perfect 3-0-0 at Holloway Field.
• Rice has shut out the Panthers in each of the last three meetings, outscoring them 12-0
• The Owls are 12-6-0 all-time in Conference USA home openers and are 13-9-0 all-time in conference home openers.
• Rice has started 2-0-0 in conference play for the second straight year.
• The three goals are the most in a conference game since shutting out Southern Miss, 4-0, on Mar. 28, 2021.
• The Owls have won their last 24 matches when scoring at least two goals and are 28-1-2 under head coach Brian Lee.
• Under Lee, when leading at the half, Rice 25-1-1.
• F Jules Johnston scored her first career goal in the 70th minute.
• MF Kallie McKinney and MF Naija Bruckner both recorded their first career assists and points.
• GK Bella Killgore scored her team-leading third goal of the season on a penalty kick.
• It is her eighth career goal.
• She is now 2-for-2 on penalty kicks this year and 4-for-4 in her career.
• Killgore also made four saves, giving he 323 in her career to tie UAB's Katie Forbis (2003-06) for 13th-place in Conference USA history.
• Killgore now has 39 career wins and 20 career shutouts.
• She became the seventh goalkeeper in Conference USA history to record 300 saves and 20 shutouts.
The Details
Rice came close to scoring early in the fourth minute when Madi Allen headed a throw-in toward the net, but an FIU defender was able to knock it away before it cross the goal line. But the Owls cracked the scoreboard six minutes later. Kallie McKinney found Serena Pham, who beat the defender and fired a shot into the top right corner for the opening goal. Killgore kept the score at one, making two straight saves in the next five minutes. But play slowed down during the rest of the half as Rice took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Rice doubled its lead early in the second half. In the 56th minute, after FIU was called for a foul in the box, Killgore put the ensuing penalty kick into the left side of the net. The Panthers came close to cutting into the deficit just two minutes later when Chinatsu Kaio's shot hit the crossbar and Nikole Solis put the rebound over the net. Jules Johnston came close to her first career goal in the 65th minute when she battled goalkeeper Ithaisa Vinoly, but Vinoly corralled the ball before Johnston could put it in. But five minutes later, Johnston wouldn't miss when a Vinoly miscue left her with a wide-open net, sliding it in for the third goal of the match. Killgore then came up with two big saves, including one from point-blank range, securing the shutout.
What Head Coach Brian Lee Had to Say
"We had another good start to the game. We're still finding ourselves. We returned a bunch of players in the last couple of games. We were hoping to be healthy by the start of conference play and it's paying off. Serena (Pham) is making a big impact. Delaney (Schultz) looks great, and Kallie McKinney is back in action. So, hopefully, we can continue on this path."
Up Next
Rice will take a week off before returning to the pitch next Sunday, September 25, when it travels to Ruston, La., to face Louisiana Tech. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed on CUSAtv.
Notes
• This was the sixth meeting between Rice and FIU, and the first since 2019.
• The Owls hold a 4-2-0 record, including a perfect 3-0-0 at Holloway Field.
• Rice has shut out the Panthers in each of the last three meetings, outscoring them 12-0
• The Owls are 12-6-0 all-time in Conference USA home openers and are 13-9-0 all-time in conference home openers.
• Rice has started 2-0-0 in conference play for the second straight year.
• The three goals are the most in a conference game since shutting out Southern Miss, 4-0, on Mar. 28, 2021.
• The Owls have won their last 24 matches when scoring at least two goals and are 28-1-2 under head coach Brian Lee.
• Under Lee, when leading at the half, Rice 25-1-1.
• F Jules Johnston scored her first career goal in the 70th minute.
• MF Kallie McKinney and MF Naija Bruckner both recorded their first career assists and points.
• GK Bella Killgore scored her team-leading third goal of the season on a penalty kick.
• It is her eighth career goal.
• She is now 2-for-2 on penalty kicks this year and 4-for-4 in her career.
• Killgore also made four saves, giving he 323 in her career to tie UAB's Katie Forbis (2003-06) for 13th-place in Conference USA history.
• Killgore now has 39 career wins and 20 career shutouts.
• She became the seventh goalkeeper in Conference USA history to record 300 saves and 20 shutouts.
Team Stats
FIU
RICE
Goals
0
3
Shots
10
11
Shots on Goal
4
7
Saves
4
4
Corners
5
6
Fouls
12
6
Scoring Plays
Pham, Serena (1)
Assisted By: McKinney, Kallie
GOAL by RICE Pham, Serena (FIRST GOAL), Assist by McKinney, Kallie, goal number 1 for season.
10:52
Killgore, Bella (3)
RICE Killgore, Bella PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 3 for season.
56:21
Johnston, Jules (1)
Assisted By: Bruckner, Naija
GOAL by RICE Johnston, Jules, Assist by Bruckner, Naija, goal number 1 for season.
70:37
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerGK
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's SoccerMF
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