Sunday, August 18
11:05 a.m.
Rice University
2-0-0, 0-0-0
2
vs
1
Navy
0-2-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Navy
1
0
1
Rice
1
1
2
Gorji’s Goal Propels Rice Past Navy
8/18/2024 2:06:00 PM | Women's Soccer
HOUSTON – Natalie Gorji's game-winning goal with under 20 minutes remaining in the match lifted Rice past Navy 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Holloway Field. The win moves Rice to 2-0, the first 2-0 start since the 2021 season.
How It Happened
Leah Chancey had the offense making strides early, with a shot later setting up Kat Lazor's header off a corner kick, but her shot just went too high to keep things scoreless. In the 26th minute, Jules Johnston and Allie Love set up the offense with two quick passes to find an open Kallie McKinney, who drilled the ball to the back of the net to give Rice an early 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, a misplay by the Owls on a throw in allowed Hannah Mulholland to tie up the match, with the two sides remaining tied at halftime.
Mikala Furuto and Johnston had chances in the opening minutes to take back the lead, but the Midshipmen goalie was there to make the saves. Navy looked to take the lead in the 58th minute on a corner kick, but Faith Hutchins was there to make the save and keep the match tied. With just under 20 minutes remaining, Taylor Rish and Naija Bruckner found Natalie Gorji, who had a one-on-one matchup with the goalie at the top of the box. Gorji shot the ball just over the goalie's reach and to the back of the net to break the tie. The Owls defense would hold the rest of the way to securing back-to-back wins to open the 2024 season for Rice.
Post-Match Reaction: Head Coach Brian Lee
"100-degree Sundays are hard, especially against a team of high-character kids like Navy. It was the heat of the moment – telling me what our heart meant. The heat of the moment showed in our eyes in pregame, warmups and on the bench and field for 90 minutes."
Scoring Summary
24:47 – RICE – Goal by Kallie McKinney (1), assisted by Jules Johnston and Allie Love
27:26 – NAVY – Goal by Hannah Mulholland (1), assisted by Rylee Rives
70:15 – RICE – Goal by Natalie Gorji (1), assisted by Taylor Rish and Naija Bruckner
Quick Hits
The Owls out-shot the Midshipmen 21-12 and 14-4 in shots on goal.
Rice also had an 11-4 corner kick advantage.
Gorji scored her ninth career goal and second game-winning goal.
McKinney netted her fourth career goal.
In the first two games for Rice, four newcomers have scored at least one point (one goal, three assists)
Hutchins earned her second win in goal, while also recording three saves.
With the win, the Owls are 1-0 against Navy.
This is Rice's first 2-0 start to a season since 2021.
This is the fourth time Rice has started a season 2-0 under head coach Brian Lee.
Both Rice's wins to open the season have been 2-1 decisions.
Up Next
The Owls will head to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on the defending national champions in No. 1 Florida State.
How It Happened
Leah Chancey had the offense making strides early, with a shot later setting up Kat Lazor's header off a corner kick, but her shot just went too high to keep things scoreless. In the 26th minute, Jules Johnston and Allie Love set up the offense with two quick passes to find an open Kallie McKinney, who drilled the ball to the back of the net to give Rice an early 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, a misplay by the Owls on a throw in allowed Hannah Mulholland to tie up the match, with the two sides remaining tied at halftime.
Mikala Furuto and Johnston had chances in the opening minutes to take back the lead, but the Midshipmen goalie was there to make the saves. Navy looked to take the lead in the 58th minute on a corner kick, but Faith Hutchins was there to make the save and keep the match tied. With just under 20 minutes remaining, Taylor Rish and Naija Bruckner found Natalie Gorji, who had a one-on-one matchup with the goalie at the top of the box. Gorji shot the ball just over the goalie's reach and to the back of the net to break the tie. The Owls defense would hold the rest of the way to securing back-to-back wins to open the 2024 season for Rice.
Post-Match Reaction: Head Coach Brian Lee
"100-degree Sundays are hard, especially against a team of high-character kids like Navy. It was the heat of the moment – telling me what our heart meant. The heat of the moment showed in our eyes in pregame, warmups and on the bench and field for 90 minutes."
Scoring Summary
24:47 – RICE – Goal by Kallie McKinney (1), assisted by Jules Johnston and Allie Love
27:26 – NAVY – Goal by Hannah Mulholland (1), assisted by Rylee Rives
70:15 – RICE – Goal by Natalie Gorji (1), assisted by Taylor Rish and Naija Bruckner
Quick Hits
The Owls out-shot the Midshipmen 21-12 and 14-4 in shots on goal.
Rice also had an 11-4 corner kick advantage.
Gorji scored her ninth career goal and second game-winning goal.
McKinney netted her fourth career goal.
In the first two games for Rice, four newcomers have scored at least one point (one goal, three assists)
Hutchins earned her second win in goal, while also recording three saves.
With the win, the Owls are 1-0 against Navy.
This is Rice's first 2-0 start to a season since 2021.
This is the fourth time Rice has started a season 2-0 under head coach Brian Lee.
Both Rice's wins to open the season have been 2-1 decisions.
Up Next
The Owls will head to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on the defending national champions in No. 1 Florida State.
Team Stats
NAVY
RICE
Goals
1
2
Shots
12
21
Shots on Goal
4
14
Saves
12
3
Corners
4
11
Fouls
13
6
Scoring Plays
Kallie McKinney (1)
Assisted By: Jules Johnston , Allie Love
GOAL by RICE McKinney, Kallie Assist by Johnston, Jules and Love, Allie.
24:47
Hannah Mulholland (1)
Assisted By: Mimi Abusham
GOAL by NAVY Mulholland, Hannah Assist by Abusham, Mimi.
27:26
Natalie Gorji (1)
Assisted By: Taylor Rish , Naija Bruckner
GOAL by RICE Gorji, Natalie Assist by Rish, Taylor and Bruckner, Naija.
70:15
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's SoccerD/F
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