WKU Soccer (6-7-3, 3-4-1 C-USA) lost to the Rice University Owls 1-0 (10-7-0, C-USA 8-0-0) in a heartbreaker Thursday evening at Holloway Field in Houston, Texas.

The Hilltopper defense played well against the Owls. WKU held Rice to 13 shots and one goal in the match. The Hilltoppers’ offense had multiple chances to score in the match. The Hilltoppers attempted seven total shots and were awarded 10 corner kicks, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.

Both teams’ defensive units controlled the early stage of the game. The Hilltoppers and Owls attempted two shots total in the first fifteen minutes. However, the WKU offense started to put pressure on Rice.

Throughout the rest of the first half the Hilltoppers totaled five shots and five corner kicks. WKU couldn’t find the net the remainder of the first half. The Hilltoppers and Owls were deadlocked at zero after the first half of play.

The second half was dominated by the defenses yet again. Through the first 20 minutes of the half, there were only three shots taken between the two teams. 

Rice began to pile on shots, as the Owls took five in the final 20 minutes. 

It looked like the Hilltoppers would escape Houston with a draw, until the Owl’s Jaden Roberts scored a goal with five seconds remaining in the game.

WKU will end its two game stretch in Texas on Sunday at the Park West Athletics Complex against the University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners at 1 p.m. CT.

Sports reporter Jake McMahon be reached at [email protected]