Final Stats

LA Tech vs. Rice box

LA Tech season stats

HOUSTON ÃÆ'¢Ã¢'¬" The Louisiana Tech women's soccer team was not able to upset one of the preseason favorites Rice on the road, falling 2-0 to the Owls on Thursday night at Holloway Field.

LA Tech (8-2-2, 1-1 C-USA) saw its seven-match unbeaten streak come to an end. It was a much different match than last season when the Lady Techsters gave up four goals.

Rice (5-2-1, 2-0 C-USA) did most of its damage in last season's match in the air via crosses and corner kicks. This time, LA Tech successfully defended eight corner kicks and rarely allowed scoring chances inside the 18.

However, the Owls, who came in having scored 15 goals in their last three wins, got its two goals from outside the top of the box.

"It was a very spirited performance against one of the best teams in the league," head coach Kevin Sherry said. "The two shots were unstoppable and on another day they fly over the goal. With a little more composure in the final third, we could have caused some more problems.

"It was a great defensive display which we will need again on Sunday."

The Lady Techsters had one of the early opportunities. In the 11th minute, a deep throw-in in the final third was eventually crossed into the 18 where it was headed by junior striker Mylene Roy-Ouellet but the ball trickled wide of the post.

Two minutes later though Rice struck. Rebecca Keane received a pass and dribbled forward and created enough space to send a booming shot from 25 yards out past the diving Carlotta Cartelli in net.

Cartelli came up with a couple of great diving saves though during the rest of the first period to came the keep the deficit at one going into intermission.

The Owls quickly found their second goal two minutes into the second period. It was a very similar setup as the first goal where reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week Samantha Chaiken took a touch outside the top of the box and sent a rocket into the back of the net.

The score stayed that way for almost the remainder of the period, but in the 84th minute it appeared as though the Lady Techsters sliced the deficit in half.

Freshman Gabrielle Parent received a pass and found a gap to send a left-footed shot that was deflected by the opposing the keeper. The ball got away and looked as though it crossed the end line, but the side referee signaled that it was saved by the keeper before crossing.

LA Tech finished with four shots, two on goal, and one corner kick. Cartelli registered five saves in the loss. The team returns home on Sunday, Sept. 24 to face off against the defending C-USA regular season champions North Texas. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Lady Techster Soccer Complex.

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