Nov. 2, 2005

HOUSTON - Host and third-seed Rice defeated sixth-seed UAB 1-0 that capped an exciting first round of action at the 2005 Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship on Wednesday. Three of the four quarterfinal matches were decided by a goal and the other was decided by penalty kicks. The Owls were one of three league newcomers to advance to Friday's semifinals where they will face No. 7 East Carolina at 7:30 p.m. The Pirates were the only lower seeded team to record a victory on Wednesday.

Freshman Anne Candee put the Owls on the board in the 12th minute as she made a nice move to free herself in the penalty box and slid a shot past UAB goalkeeper Katie Forbis. Candee had three shots on goal in the half, but could not get another past Forbis, who made five first-half saves.

The Blazers, who held a 4-2 advantage on corner kicks, unleashed just two shots in the opening half, but one by Anna Martorana forced Rice goalkeeper Adrienne Giese to make a diving stop. The second half was much the same as the Owls held a 10-3 advantage on shots, but it was Giese who once again came up with a big diving save.

The freshman made another crucial stop in the 81st minute that thwarted a great scoring chance by C-USA Freshman of the Year Nasra Abdullah. Giese finished with four saves, three in the second half and Forbis countered with seven saves in goal for the Blazers.