Oct. 1, 2010
Final Stats
Box Score In PDF Format 
HOUSTON, TEXAS- The UTEP soccer team batted hard only to come up shy at Rice, 1-0, on Friday evening. The Owls' (6-5-0, 3-0-0) Haley Williams headed home a ball off a corner kick for the lone goal of the contest at 80:22.
The setback halts the Miners' (9-2-0, 2-1-1 Conference USA) eight-match winning streak, which was the third longest in program history. Reigning C-USA defensive player of the week Chandra Morden registered two saves to lead the efforts defensively. Sophomore Tess Hall (two) and Tori Martyn (one) provided the top scoring threats for the Orange and Blue.
UTEP asserted itself early on, with Hall peppering RU netminder Meghan Erkel with a pair of shots within the first three-and-a half minutes of the match. The homestanding keeper came up with the stop both times, though.
At the other end of the pitch, tight marking by the Orange and Blue prevented the Owls from registering a shot on goal until the 32nd minute. Julia Barrow managed to find some space to work with, but Morden was up to the challenge.
The visiting side was back on the offensive late in the opening stanza, doing so off one of its four corner kicks on the evening. C-USA assist leader Katie Dorman lobbed a ball into the area where Jessie Pettit elevated above the pack for a header but it whistled wide just before the horn sounded.
The second period started much like the first concluded, with the Miners knocking on the door. Martyn ripped a shot only to have Erkel gobble it up.
UTEP's defense blocked away shots by Annie Kadota at both 68:37 and 79:42, but the latter of the deflections set the Owls up with a corner kick. The ball was played into the area by Britton Cartwright, with Hope Ward heading it over to Williams.
She one-timed a header past Morden, who could not come up with the stop this time.
The Miners fought hard down the stretch, in an effort to force overtime. Freshman Kenah Linger made a strong run in the final minute of the match, and sent a shot screaming in on net. It whistled just wide, though, allowing the Owls to hold on.
UTEP will look to rebound when it plays at Houston at 1 p.m. MT Sunday.
