Soccer Drops 2-1 Match to Rice in Houston
HOUSTON, Texas — In their first trip to Houston in 28 years, Arkansas soccer fell to Rice, 2-1, on Sunday night. Down two with 13 minutes remaining, a late goal from Ashleigh Ellenwood in the 78th minute brought the Razorbacks within one. But a frenzied push forward at the end of the match came up empty for the visitors, as Arkansas dropped to 3-2-0 on the season.
“There were areas tonight where we were good; we outshot them 24-8 and had enough of the ball and chances to win,” head coach Colby Hale said. “The progress we are making is obvious in many areas, but there are a few details we need to clean up. We will grow from this.”
Early in the match, not much was doing for either side, until Rice struck first in the 41st minute. Lauren Hughes picked up a loose ball, dribbled up and let loose from 20 yards out. The shot eluded a diving Cameron Carter to give the Owls a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
The Razorbacks came out with urgency in the second half, but after a few key saves by keeper Zoe Pochobradsky, Rice countered with a goal. Hughes sent a cross into the box in the 54th minute and Annie Walker was there to send a diving header past Arkansas keeper Jordan Harris for a 2-0 lead.
The continued push by Arkansas paid off in the 78th minute, when Alexandra Fischer set up for a corner kick from the right side. She put a great service to the far post where Ellenwood was streaking through a defender. Ellenwood headed it in for her fourth goal of the season to bring the Razorbacks within one.
It was Ellenwood’s first goal of the year that wasn’t included in her hat trick performance against Yale on Aug. 28, and it was Fischer’s first assist of the season. Overall, Arkansas led Rice 24-8 in shots attempted and peppered Pochobradsky with seven shots on goal, compared to the Owls’ four shots on net.
After 19 days and three road matches away from Razorback Field, Arkansas returns to Fayetteville for four consecutive home contests. The homestand begins with Tennessee coming to town on Friday, Sept. 11 for the Razorbacks’ first SEC match of the season. UMKC follows suit on Sunday, Sept. 13 for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
For more information on Razorback Soccer during the season, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter.
