HOUSTON – HCU women's soccer suffered a 2-1 defeat in the Huskies' season opener against the Rice Owls on a warm Thursday evening at Holloway Field.
The Owls (1-0) came right at the Huskies (0-1) to start the game with sophomore goalkeeper
Emmy McKeon being tested within the first minute, stepping up to take away the angle on a Leah Chancey attempt from the right side of the box and deflecting her shot away. The Huskies had a few chances but couldn't put a shot on target early in the first half before Chancey scored directly on a corner kick in the 17
th minute. Rice pushed its lead to two about 20 minutes later with Mariana Elizondo placing a shot from the top of the box into the top left corner.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the second half, the Huskies' offense was more active with nine shot attempts to just three in the first half. HCU broke through in the 83
rd minute when a corner kick was redirected by
Cloe Baugh to the feet of
Jasmine Diaz who quickly passed it to
Alexia Murillo for a one-timer off the inside of the right post from about 15 yards in front of goal to cut the deficit to just one. McKeon made a pair of saves over the final five minutes to keep the Huskies within striking distance but the Rice defense kept HCU from getting another attempt on goal to preserve the win.
McKeon registered a career-high 10 saves in goal for the Huskies with seven of those coming in the second half. Murillo's goal was the third of her career while Baugh and Diaz, both freshmen, were credited with their first collegiate assists.
Rice held a 24-12 advantage in shot attempts and put 12 shots on goal to the Huskies' five.
HCU hits the road for its' next game, a Sunday, Aug. 17, matchup in Stephenville, Texas against Tarleton State at 1:00 p.m.
