University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
Rice
Houston Soccer Downs Rice to Open Season
9/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 1, 2002
Sophomore Nikki Hawkins scored the first goal of the year to tie the score at one goal a piece just 58 seconds into the second half and the Cougars' relentless defense held off the Owls as the University of Houston women's soccer team handed cross-town rival Rice a 2-1 defeat to kick-off its 2002 season.
Assisted by Kristen Lindsay, Rice's Sarah Yoder scored the first goal of the game 31:15 into the first half as the Owls to a 1-0 lead.
About 14 minutes later, Hawkins slipped one past Rice goalie Amanda Garrison to even the score, 1-1. With 58:59 on the clock, newcomer Sara Hemmer, a freshman from Carrolton, Texas, followed in fellow freshman Julie Cole's shot, which ricocheted off the top bar of the goal, for Houston's winning goal.
Houston took the field with many new faces, including goalie Eric Ferguson, a freshman from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, who had two saves despite allowing Rice's solo goal.
With the 2-1 victory, Houston's season record now rests at 1-0-0. They next travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to participate in the New Mexico Tournament. The Cougars take on the Lobos in their first game of the tournament on Sept. 6 at 7:00p.m., with the second contest set against UTEP on Sept. 8 at 12:00p.m.
Houston returns home to Robertson Stadium to host North Texas on Friday, Sept. 13, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00p.m.
