Owls Fall Short to No. 3 Vanderbilt

Thursday, August 27

Houston, Texas

6 p.m.

Rice University

1-2-2, 0-0-0

No. 3 Vanderbilt

4-0-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Vanderbilt	2	1	3
Rice	0	1	1

8/27/2026 8:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Anthony Roberts (ar186@rice.edu)

HOUSTON – The Rice soccer team put up a valiant effort against the third-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores but fell short 3-1 Thursday night at Holloway Field. The Owls drop to 1-2-2 on the season while Vanderbilt moves to 4-0.

How It Happened
The Commodores found rhythm early, scoring the opening goal of the match just five minutes into the game. A little over 20 minutes later, Vanderbilt struck for its second goal. Jordyn Mariam fired a corner kick to the goal post, but Vanderbilt's keeper was able to deflect the ball off the post to keep Rice off the board. The Owls trailed 2-0 at the half.

After Mia Brumlow found Neerali Kapadia down the field, a cross to the other side of the box found Valentina Labuschagne for a Rice goal to bring the Owls within one in the 52^nd minute. With a corner kick for the Owls with 10 minutes remaining, consecutive shots from Labuschagne and Dayo Tennyson were just saved to keep Vanderbilt in the lead. The Commodores scored once more with less than a minute to go to secure the win.

Scoring Summary
05:38 – VAN – Goal by Sydney Watts, assisted by Olivia Stafford and Reagan Pentz
28:15 – VAN – Goal by Lena Tusche, assisted by Alexis Smith
51:04 – RICE – Goal by Valentina Labuschagne, assisted by Neerali Kapadia and Mia Brumlow
89:09 – VAN – Goal by Reagan Pentz

Quick Hits
Vanderbilt outshot Rice 13-8 and 6-5 in shots on goal.
The Commodores had a 9-4 corner kick advantage.
Labuschagne scored her second goal of the season.
Kapadia added her second assist of the season.
Brumlow recorded her first career assist.
Vanderbilt's three goals are the fewest scored this season.
Rice is now 2-1 all-time against Vanderbilt.

Up Next
The Owls head to the road to take on No. 21 Texas State next Thursday night.