Soccer loses consecutive games in Ohio

After reeling off a five-match unbeaten streak, the Rice University women’s soccer team had trouble adjusting to the unfamiliar and hostile environments at the University of Dayton and at Miami of Ohio University. Rice lost both matches with a total score of 7-2. The winless weekend was the first the Owls have had since October 2013, a span of nearly two years. The Owls have an overall record of 4-3-1 and have now completed all non-conference games in their 2015 schedule.

Dayton and Rice had previously played in Houston last season to a 2-2 double overtime final in a back-and-forth game where 47 shots were taken and 18 saves were made. During this matchup, Rice got down early by conceding three goals in a five-minute span. Despite the score line, Rice found themselves on the board when freshman Gabby Martinez headed

home a corner kick in the 32nd minute of the game to cut the lead to 3-1. Behind by a 4-1 deficit at the half, junior defender Jenny Fichera scored the second goal for Rice off a penalty kick in the 51st minute to again cut into the lead. As the game progressed, the Owls created multiple opportunities to score but failed to find the back of the net and Rice fell by a 5-2 margin.

For the second match, the Owls held the advantage in shots (13-6) and corner kicks (6-1) but could not capitalize on those opportunities. Two days after conceding a season-high five goals against Dayton, the Rice defense locked down the Miami of Ohio RedHawks offense allowing just a single shot the entire first half.

Rice’s offense struggled to connect on shots. The closest opportunity came in the 41st minute of the match. A strike off the boot of senior forward Lauren Hughes on a free kick hit the crossbar and was mere inches from scor-

ing. Miami’s Kat Zalar would eventually break through for two goals in the second half, the first coming in the 56th minute and her second in the 86th minute. For the first time this season, Rice was shut out by an opponent.

Head Coach Nicky Adams said she believes the losses revealed areas of improvement for the Owls before Conference USA play begins.

“[I am] a bit frustrated overall with the whole weekend,” Adams said. “We’ve been working really, really hard and I put us in a good position [to win] so this is a little deflating for us. I think coming to Ohio shed some light on some real serious areas that we need to work on ... [but] we’re going to buckle down ... and come back strong before conference.”

Hughes, Rice’s all-time leading scorer, talked about getting back into the rhythm of Rice soccer this weekend. She said the unsuccessful weekend of play allowed the team to rally together which in turn improved team bonding.

“This weekend showed that our team has a

lot to work on,” Hughes said. “I also feel this weekend improved team bonding [because] we spent a lot of time together and got to know one another better off the field. I think that this week will be used to get us back into the rhythm of Rice Soccer.”

According to Hughes, the team has a lot of prove as the Conference USA slate begins in two weeks. Hughes said the prize is punching a ticket to the NCAA tournament for a second consecutive year.

“We can’t wait to be back on the field for the beginning of conference in two weeks,” Hughes said. “We have a lot to prove and everyone is excited to start the road to the NCAA tournament by securing that automatic bid.”

Rice looks ahead to a weekend of no competitive matches on the schedule. Rice resumes play on Sept. 25 with the conference opener against Western Kentucky University. Following this match, Rice will travel to Huntington, West Virginia to face Marshall University.