BIRMINGHAM – Rice’s Mikala Furuto scored 6:55 into overtime to give the Owls a 1-0 victory over UAB on Senior Night at BBVA Field.
Rice (9-2-0, 4-1-0 C-USA) will hold on to a share of first place in Conference USA West Division while the Blazers fall to 7-5-1, 2-3-0 C-USA on the year. This was UAB’s first setback at home this season.
The backlines for both teams locked down as defenders broke up several scoring opportunities.
Lexxe Lipsey had the first scoring opportunity for the Blazers in the 52nd minute, but her shot went wide of the goal. Laura Zemberyova had a pair of opportunities but was turned away by Rice keeper Bella Kilgore in the 62nd and 78th minutes. Kilgore also stopped Kassandra Daniel in the 64th minute. UAB had a chance to go ahead with 1:15 remaining, but Kilgore made a diving stop on Sarah Buse’s shot.
Kilgore had the final scoring chance in regulation off a free kick with five seconds remaining, but her shot sailed high from 30 yards out.
The game-winner was set up in the 97th minute when Caleigh Boeckx brought up the ball and found Haley Kostyshyn, who attacked on the right side. Kostyshyn fed Furuto just outside of the box who put the ball past Anika Toth into the right corner of the net.
Lipsey led all players with five shots, Zemberyova added four, Buse two and Daniel and Regan Kommor recorded one each.
Toth saved a pair of Rice shots.
The regular season concludes at Louisiana Tech on April 9.
GAME NOTES
- Kamilah Mustafa, along with Buse, Daniel and Kommor were honored before the match as part of the Senior Night ceremony
- Nine Blazers played all 97 minutes
- UAB outshot Rice 13-10
For more information on the UAB women’s soccer team, follow @UAB_WSoc on Twitter and Instagram.
