Box Score HOUSTON, Texas (Oct. 2, 2015) – The FIU women's soccer team (6-6, 2-1 C-USA) fell to the Rice Owls (6-4-1, 2-1 C-USA), 4-2, on Friday evening
 
Rice kicked-off the match strong with a goal in the second minute, taking an early lead 1-0.
 
Senior Scarlet Montoya put FIU on the board in the 19^th minute to tie the game, 1-1. The goal was the third of the season for the reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Rice regained the lead with a goal by Madeleine Lundberg in the 21^st minute to put the Owls up 2-1.
 
FIU went into halftime trailing in total shots, 7-4.
 
The Panthers came out of the break looking to pull even with the Owls. However, the Owls put up another goal in the 50^thto put the game at 3-1. At the 58^th minute, Rice extended its lead to 4-1.
 
FIU responded with the team's second goal of the night. Junior Ellen Crist registered for her third goal of the season in the 60^th minute to cut the deficit to 4-2. Redshirt senior Nikki Rios was credited with her first assists of the season on the score.
 
FIU continued to pressure the Owls defense. However, the Panthers were unable to find the back of the net in the final 30 minutes, falling to Rice, 4-2.
 
On the night, the Owls out-shot the Panthers 15-7, while Rice held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
 
The Panthers return on Sunday as they take on North Texas in Houston. First touch will be at 2 p.m.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUWomensSoccer) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWSoccer) for all the latest FIU women's soccer news.
Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of Conference USA. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member ofConference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visithttp://www.fiu.edu/.