HOUSTON — Visiting Texas scored a pair of first half goals before finishing with a 3-0 win over the Rice soccer team in the season-opener for both teams Friday evening at Holloway Field in Houston.

Friday’s Rice-Texas contest had an elite distinction of one of only seven opening day games from across the country between teams that both reached the NCAA Tournament in 2017. The Owls hit the framework of the goal twice in the first half but had nothing to show for it. True freshman Caleigh Boeckx hit the top of a post in the tenth minute. Marissa Topolski launched a rocket shot off the crossbar in the 37th. Converting either shot attempt, or both, could have swung the momentum with a tie score at the intermission.

The No. 17 ranked Longhorns held a 15-9 advantage in shots and a 9-3 margin in corner kicks. Topolski paced Rice with three shot attempts in the contest. Owl goalkeeper Maya Hoyer recorded a total of seven saves.

"Texas is ranked as high as they are for a reason," said Rice head coach Nicky Adams. "We’re young and going to have some growing pains, but some of the things we did today were completely uncharacteristic of our team. (On the two shots off the goal) if we put those in those in the back of the net those are moment-changers. This is only game one. We have a long season."

The Owls are next in action with a second-straight home match on August 23 against longtime state rival SMU. Start time vs. the Mustangs is set for 7 pm at Holloway Field.

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