Sunday, August 17
Edinburg, TX
11 a.m.
Rice University
2-0-0, 0-0-0
6
at
0
UTRGV
0-2-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Rice
2
4
6
UTRGV
0
0
0
Owls Erupt for Six Goals to Blank UTRGV
8/17/2025 3:13:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EDINBURG – The Rice soccer team use an offensive explosion Sunday afternoon, putting up six goals en route to the team's first shutout win of the season 6-0 at UTRGV. The Owls move to 2-0 early in the 2025 season, while UTRGV falls to 0-2.
How It Happened
Rice had offensive chances early on, but shots from Leah Chancey and Olivia Duvall couldn't sneak past the UTRGV keeper. After back-to-back shots got blocked for the Owls, a foul in the box awarded Rice a penalty kick at the 30:49 mark. Mariana Elizondo capitalized with her second goal of the season to open the scoring. With just over a minute left in the half, Laurel Kelley doubled the lead off a pass from Sophie Zhang as the Owls went up 2-0 at the half.
It didn't take long for the Owls to strike again, with Eileen Albers joining the action with her first Rice goal with Chancey grabbing an assist. Shortly after Elizabet Velkova found the back of the net for her first career goal off a pass from Jules Johnston. Camille Quarterman used two passes from Allie Love and Isabelle Kent to tack on Rice's fifth goal of the match shortly after the 81-minute mark. One more goal in the closing minutes from Jessica Molina gave the Owls a 6-0 win.
Post-Match Reaction: Head Coach Brian Lee
"It was a nice step forward from opening night. The team committed to working for a shutout and the group attacking (12 different players had a goal or assist) was great to see. Now we are heading home and staring at the interstate screaming 'Hey, I wanna get better!'"
Scoring Summary
30:49 – RICE – Goal by Mariana Elizondo (2), PK
43:55 – RICE – Goal by Laurel Kelley (1), assisted by Sophie Zhang
51:19 – RICE – Goal by Eileen Albers (1), assisted by Leah Chancey
66:06 – RICE – Goal by Elizabet Velkova (1), Jules Johnston
81:11 – RICE – Goal by Camille Quarterman (1), Allie Love, Isabelle Kent
86:06 – RICE – Goal by Jessica Molina (1), Piper Biziorek
Quick Hits
The Owls out-shot UTRGV 19-5 and 11-3 in shots on goal.
The Vaqueros had an 8-3 corner kick advantage.
Elizondo has scored in back-to-back games and for the fifth time in her career.
Kelley notched her first career goal and had recorded a point in back-to-back games.
Albers scored her 14th career goal and first goal at Rice.
Velkova netted her first career goal.
Quarterman recorded her third career goal.
Molina scored her second career goal.
Kirsten Ruf and Kenzie Solomon combined for three saves in goal for the shutout.
The Owls' six goals are the most in a game since scoring eight against TSU during the 2020-21 season.
The six goals are the most scored on the road since Rice has seven at Old Dominion in 2017.
The Owls are now 2-0 all-time against UTRGV.
Up Next
The Owls return home Thursday night to face Incarnate Word.
How It Happened
Rice had offensive chances early on, but shots from Leah Chancey and Olivia Duvall couldn't sneak past the UTRGV keeper. After back-to-back shots got blocked for the Owls, a foul in the box awarded Rice a penalty kick at the 30:49 mark. Mariana Elizondo capitalized with her second goal of the season to open the scoring. With just over a minute left in the half, Laurel Kelley doubled the lead off a pass from Sophie Zhang as the Owls went up 2-0 at the half.
It didn't take long for the Owls to strike again, with Eileen Albers joining the action with her first Rice goal with Chancey grabbing an assist. Shortly after Elizabet Velkova found the back of the net for her first career goal off a pass from Jules Johnston. Camille Quarterman used two passes from Allie Love and Isabelle Kent to tack on Rice's fifth goal of the match shortly after the 81-minute mark. One more goal in the closing minutes from Jessica Molina gave the Owls a 6-0 win.
Post-Match Reaction: Head Coach Brian Lee
"It was a nice step forward from opening night. The team committed to working for a shutout and the group attacking (12 different players had a goal or assist) was great to see. Now we are heading home and staring at the interstate screaming 'Hey, I wanna get better!'"
Scoring Summary
30:49 – RICE – Goal by Mariana Elizondo (2), PK
43:55 – RICE – Goal by Laurel Kelley (1), assisted by Sophie Zhang
51:19 – RICE – Goal by Eileen Albers (1), assisted by Leah Chancey
66:06 – RICE – Goal by Elizabet Velkova (1), Jules Johnston
81:11 – RICE – Goal by Camille Quarterman (1), Allie Love, Isabelle Kent
86:06 – RICE – Goal by Jessica Molina (1), Piper Biziorek
Quick Hits
The Owls out-shot UTRGV 19-5 and 11-3 in shots on goal.
The Vaqueros had an 8-3 corner kick advantage.
Elizondo has scored in back-to-back games and for the fifth time in her career.
Kelley notched her first career goal and had recorded a point in back-to-back games.
Albers scored her 14th career goal and first goal at Rice.
Velkova netted her first career goal.
Quarterman recorded her third career goal.
Molina scored her second career goal.
Kirsten Ruf and Kenzie Solomon combined for three saves in goal for the shutout.
The Owls' six goals are the most in a game since scoring eight against TSU during the 2020-21 season.
The six goals are the most scored on the road since Rice has seven at Old Dominion in 2017.
The Owls are now 2-0 all-time against UTRGV.
Up Next
The Owls return home Thursday night to face Incarnate Word.
Team Stats
RICE
UTRGV
Goals
6
0
Shots
19
5
Shots on Goal
11
3
Saves
3
5
Corners
3
8
Fouls
5
5
Scoring Plays
Mariana Elizondo (1)
RICE Mariana Elizondo PENALTY KICK GOAL.
30:49
Laurel Kelley (1)
Assisted By: Sophie Zhang
GOAL by RICE Kelley, Laurel Assist by Zhang, Sophie.
43:55
Eileen Albers (1)
Assisted By: Leah Chancey
GOAL by RICE Albers, Eileen Assist by Chancey, Leah.
51:19
Elizabet Velkova (1)
Assisted By: Jules Johnston
GOAL by RICE Velkova, Elizabet Assist by Johnston, Jules.
66:06
Camille Quarterman (1)
Assisted By: Allie Love , Isabelle Kent
GOAL by RICE Quarterman, Camille Assist by Love, Allie and Kent, Isabelle.
81:11
Jessica Molina (1)
Assisted By: Piper Biziorek
GOAL by RICE Molina, Jessica Assist by Biziorek, Piper.
86:06
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
2024 Night of the Owl End of Year Recap
Thursday, April 25
Tommy McClelland Introductory Press Conference
Sunday, August 06
2023 Night of The Owl End of Year Highlight
Tuesday, April 25
2022 Rice Soccer Preseason Hype
Monday, August 15