The Rice soccer team's season-opening game at McNeese was canceled in the match's eighth minute Thursday (Feb. 4) due to field conditions.

There is no result. By NCAA rule a Division I soccer game must reach at least the 70th minute to be an official contest. The match will not be rescheduled. Owl head coach Brian Lee, with more than 25 years experience as a Division I head coach, provided a statement.

"This was collaborative decision with the McNeese coaches, administration and officials that one area of the field was unplayable to the point of risking player safety," coach Lee said. "We appreciate the professionalism of the officials and McNeese staff, and wish them good luck this spring and to the community that continues with hurricane recovery efforts."

Now in the 20th anniversary season of Rice soccer, the Owls have previously had a match canceled before reaching the 70th minute. In 2014 Rice and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi were ordered off Holloway Field in the game's 23rd minute due to lightning in the area. That match ended up being canceled and not rescheduled.

Rice soccer now turns its full attention to its new season opener, a home match with crosstown foe Houston Baptist on Sunday (Feb. 7). Start time against the Huskies is set for 1 pm (which is a change from an earlier listing).

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