HOUSTON, Texas – Laura Hughes scored a hat trick, as the Rice Owls women's soccer team (9-3-3, 5-2-1 C-USA) earned a 5-0 Conference-USA victory Friday against Old Dominion (4-8-4, 3-3-2 C-USA) at Holloway Field.
Old Dominion head coach Angie Hind said after the match, “Obviously, we are bitterly disappointed by tonight's results, but I have to say we were beaten by a good team tonight, who were on the top of their game."
Hughes gave the Owls an early lead with a goal in the 17th minute, off an assist from Gabriela Iribarne and Danielle Spriggs, respectively.
Rice added a second goal fifteen minutes later as Quinny Truong assisted Holly Hargreaves, to take 2-0 lead into the break.
Rice outshot Old Dominion 10-2 and held the advantage in corner kicks 4-0 in the opening half, but the Lady Monarchs led in saves, 3-1.
Spriggs got a goal of her own, as she headed in a Jenny Fichera pass in the 53rd minute. Samantha Chaiken assisted Hughes at the 57:39 mark and then the junior scored her third, a solo effort, three minutes later.
The Owls finished the game leading in shots (23-4) and corners (7-0). Goalkeeper Erin Kinz made seven saves for the Lady Monarchs, while Amy Czyz had two saves for Rice.
With the loss, Old Dominion falls to eighth place in conference standings and leads Florida International by one point with two games remaining. The top eight teams will advance to the 2014 Conference USA Championships Nov. 5-9 in Charlotte, N.C.
NEXT UP FOR THE LADY MONARCHS
Old Dominion concludes its road schedule Sunday with a 2 p.m. conference game at North Texas.
MEET NORTH TEXAS – Sunday, October 26 at 2:00 p.m. EST in Denton (11-4-1, 5-1-1)
NT is receiving votes in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire Top 25 Poll, while being ranked No. 7 in the Central Region by the NSCAA. The Mean Green are winners of four of their last six (with one tie mixed in) and are 8-3-0 on their own pitch this season.
Goalkeeper Jackie Kerestine leads the conference in shutouts (9), save percentage (.884) and goals against average (.610). Kerestine is ranked seventh nationally in save percentage.
Forward Karla Pineda leads the Mean Green with 20 points on seven goals (3 GW) and is tied for a C-USA best with six assists. North Texas has compiled a RPI of 81, which is second best in Conference USA, behind only Rice.
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