University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Rice
Soccer Season Comes To A Close
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss.-- The Lady Eagle soccer team ended their 2005 season today, falling in a 2-0 decision to Rice.
With the loss, the season comes to a close for Southern Miss, concluding the season with a 4-9-2 overall record, 1-7-1 mark in Conference USA. Rice improves to 10-6-1, 6-2-1.
"We're very disappointed with today," Head Coach Gail Macklin said. "I expected more enthusiasm and we didn't have it today. We missed Sarah McFadden (World Cup Qualifier). With her gone, it hurt us. We're disappointed when you have a losing season, and when you lose so many close games in overtime. We've got to look to the future and keep working hard and recruiting. We intend to do that."
Today was senior day for three Lady Eagle seniors, Chelsey Brown, Katie McClary and Micah Stephens. It was also the final day of the soccer program's weekend celebration of 30 years of women's athletics.
"Micah, Katie and Chelsey were all key players for our program," Macklin said. "They will be hard to replace, but we are working hard to replace their abilities next year. They will be missed.
"It was good to see so many faces this weekend with the 30-year celebration. It was great to see everyone and to have their support."
Southern Miss was the aggressor early in the match, as a Carly Barkley shot was blocked at the 18:56 mark and a shot by Sarah Brennan at the 22:20 mark went wide. Brennan went on to have two more shots, one that went wide at the 25:57 mark and one that was saved by Rice goalkeeper Adriene Giese at the 29:53 mark.
Rice then took a 1-0 lead at the 32:13 mark, as Caitlin Robbins netted her 12th of the season, as her shot sailed in the right side of the net over the outstretched arms of Lady Eagle goalkeeper Holly Cox.
At halftime, the Lady Owls had a 1-0 lead. The shots were tied at seven apiece between the two schools.
In the second period, Brennan saw another shot blocked at the 49:43 mark, and Kate Hall saw her follow-up go high.
Then at the 50:58 mark, Robbins netted her second goal of the game for the Lady Owls, giving Rice a 2-0 advantage, which ended up being the final margin.
Rice finished the contest with an 18-11 edge in shots.
Brennan led Southern Miss with four shots, while Barkley and Micah Stephens each had two. Cox had five saves in goal for the Lady Eagles.
Ashley Lucas finished with a team-high four shots for Rice, while Anne Candee and Robbins each had three. Robbins netted both goals of the match for Rice. Giese had two saves in goal for the Lady Owls.
Macklin is already looking forward to the 2006 edition of the Lady Eagle soccer team.
"We're going to return a lot of players," Macklin said. "We're going to be much stronger. This coming spring is important for us. We're going to build up more leaders and be a better team next year."
