UH women bounced by Rice

Advertiser Staff

Caitlin Currie picked an opportune time to score the first two goals of her career, leading Rice to a 2-0 win over the University of Hawai'i in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament yesterday in Houston.

The loss ends the season for the Rainbow Wahine (10-8-2).

"It's been a great season," coach Pinsoom Tenzig said. "But right now, we're very disappointed, very sad."

Tenzig said the travel played a factor.

"It's been a long road trip making it very demanding," Tenzig said. "We're just trying to get home as soon as possible."

Currie's goals came off of knocked down corner kicks. The first was from 12 yards out at 65:17 in the second half and the second was a 15-yard shot that was deflected over the defense and into the net, with nine minutes left.

"They had free kicks and took advantage of it," Tenzig said. "But everything considered, we played better then them, we had our chances, but we just didn't convert on those chances.

"It should have been a 4-0 win for us. It's a lucky win for them."

Both Hawai'i and Rice had seven shots each, two of them on goals.

Hawai'i's Natasha Kai had three shots, one on goal.

"Again, Rice converted and we didn't," Tenzig said. "But I think the game was won by the headers, the home crowd, and because of our road trip, which is why we came out sloppy."

Rice improved to 4-12-2, 3-5-0. The Owls will next face University of Texas-El Paso today.

Fresno State beat Tulsa 4-0 in another first-round game yesterday.