Nov. 7, 2007

Box Score

EL PASO, Texas - In game two of the 2007 Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship at University Field on the campus of UTEP Wednesday afternoon, No. 5 Rice downed No. 4 UAB, 1-0. Kellen Schugart scored on a free kick in the second minute for Rice and the Owls hung on the rest of the way to grab the upset victory.

Schugart drilled a free kick from outside the 18-yard box just underneath the crossbar for her first goal of the season for the eventual game winner. UAB had chances throughout the first half to even the score, but nothing was able to get past Rice goalkeeper Meghan Erkel. UAB out-shot Rice 6-2 in the first stanza.

UAB had five corner kicks and six shots in the first half, to only one corner kick and two shots by Rice. Schugart led all players with two shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Shots were even in the second half, with UAB again threatening to even the score. In the 85th minute, UAB thought they had tied the game, but the ball was an indirect free kick and did not touch anyone before entering the goal, thus nullifying the score.

UAB's Jill Porto had another shot at the equalizer for the Blazers in the 88th minute, but her shot went just wide and Rice was able to run out the clock for the victory.

Schugart registered all of Rice's shots in the contest, finishing with five. Four of them were on-goal. Porto led her team with three shots, one on-goal, while Jenny Meyer and Sally Palmer each tallied two shots. Both Erkel and UAB's Kate Blankenship played all 90 minutes in goal, each coming up with three saves.

UAB ends its regular season at 9-8-2, while Rice improves to 12-6-2 with the win. Rice will face top-seeded UCF in Friday's first semifinal game at 5:00 p.m. MST.