HOUSTON – Louisiana Tech went toe-to-toe with Rice, the No. 24 ranked team in the nation, on its home field, narrowly falling to the Owls by a score of 2-1 on a late goal on Friday night at Holloway Field.
 
The two squads spent the first 15 minutes settling into the match with just one combined shot attempt.  However, Rice (8-2-1, 2-0-0 C-USA) opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Serena Pham followed up a header off the post from a corner kick with a right-footed goal from 15 yards away.  
 
LA Tech (4-6-1, 0-3-0 C-USA) was forced to play defense for the remainder of the first half, fighting off  three more shots and corner kicks to keep things within a goal going into halftime.
 
The Lady Techsters applied heavy pressure early in the second stanza, and that consistent pressure paid off in the 55th minute when a turnover by the Owls in the box found Morgan Miller who blasted a left-footed shot inside the far post for the equalizer.
 
LA Tech continued to be the more physical and relentless team, amassing 13 shot attempts in the second 45-minute frame after only taking three attempts in the first half. 
 
Unfortunately, it was another corner kick that did the visiting team in as the Owls' Catarin Albuquerque punched in the header inside the far post in the 81st minute for what would be the game winner.
 
QUOTABLES
Interim head coach Steve Voltz
 
"Our players put in the work and we are right there tonight against a powerful team in Rice, but at the end of the day we need to find a way to win those critical moments.  I am extremely proud of the effort.  The team left it all out on the field.  The players are committed to the cause; there is a great team spirit.  We just need to make a break for ourselves instead of hoping for it." 
 
NOTABLES

• Josie Studer and Libe Banuelos played the full 90 minutes for the Lady Techsters. Studer has gone the distance in seven of the 11 matches this season and has played all 280 minutes in C-USA play.
• Bailey Botkin made her first start of the season.
• Libe Banuelos was credited with six saves on the night.It marks the third time this season she has registered at least six saves in a match.
• Morgan Miller notched her third goal of the season.She is now tied for the team-lead in goals scored along with Anna Loftus and Lauren Egbuloniu.
• LA Tech's goal was just the fourth this season allowed by Rice at home.
• LA Tech outshot Rice, 16-14.It was the second most shots allowed by the Owls this season.

UP NEXT
LA Tech returns to the pitch in a week to face UTEP on Friday, Oct. 1 in Ruston at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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