It’s a chilly morning in Denton County and expected to get a lot colder before our 7pm match with UNT tonight. Rice (9-0) already has clinched the top seed in the CUSA tournament and the regular season title. UNT (6-1-1) should be a good game as they’re another one of the top teams in conference, currently #2 in the standings. At 12-2-1 we are likely in the conversation for an at-large NCAA bid and a win tonight could bolster that case considerably.
Go Rice Owls!!!

Rice moves up this week to #18 Nationally in the Coaches Poll.
We’re ranked 29 in NCAA RPI (UNT is at 69).

Top eight teams in conference go to Boca Raton for the CUSA tournament next week. Host FAU hasn’t clinched a berth (only 4 teams have clinched a trip) and would play #1 Seed Rice in an opening round game if current seeds hold through the weekend.
I’ll be rooting for winless FIU to upset them tonight but I’m not holding my breath.

Temp falling from upper to lower 40's during game with some wind.

(10-27-2017 07:58 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Rice moves up this week to #18 Nationally in the Coaches Poll.

(10-27-2017 07:58 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Top eight teams in conference go to Boca Raton for the CUSA tournament next week. Host FAU hasn’t clinched a berth (only 4 teams have clinched a trip) and would play #1 Seed Rice in an opening round game if current seeds hold through the weekend.
I’ll be rooting for winless FIU to upset them tonight but I’m not holding my breath.

If FIU does win tonight, who would we likely face in that first tournament game?

(10-27-2017 10:59 AM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(10-27-2017 07:58 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Top eight teams in conference go to Boca Raton for the CUSA tournament next week. Host FAU hasn’t clinched a berth (only 4 teams have clinched a trip) and would play #1 Seed Rice in an opening round game if current seeds hold through the weekend.
I’ll be rooting for winless FIU to upset them tonight but I’m not holding my breath.

If FIU does win tonight, who would we likely face in that first tournament game?

Roughly in this order of probability:
WKU
Charlotte
Marshall
Middle Tennessee
UTEP
UAB

None of which would have home field :)

Even if FAU wins they might move up above the 8 seed. A tie might set them up to stay at #8. But 6 of the 9 games this weekend have implications on who makes the cut.

1-0 Owl lead with 30 min. left in half.

Strangely, refs wearing green shirts and black shorts, similar colors to UNT's unis.

(10-27-2017 07:24 PM)DFW Owl Wrote:  Strangely, refs wearing green shirts and black shorts, similar colors to UNT's unis.

Explains a lot of the calls so far


Still 1-0 Rice at the half

(10-27-2017 07:57 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(10-27-2017 07:24 PM)DFW Owl Wrote:  Strangely, refs wearing green shirts and black shorts, similar colors to UNT's unis.

Explains a lot of the calls so far


Still 1-0 Rice at the half

Refs changed to orange at the half.

UNT tied it with a goal in the 88th minute. Still 1-1 after 1st OT.

1-1 final. Ugh.

A tie won't kill our ranking too much I don't think?

(10-27-2017 09:28 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  A tie won't kill our ranking too much I don't think?

Should be ok the ranking... I’m just bummed that the 17 game conference game win streak is over. In the 88’, too :/

We were clearly the better team tonight and won most of the ball control battles.

Their goal came on a corner kick set set up by a free kick from midfield. We had a corner with 4 or 5 minutes left where we chose to try to burn time in the corner instead of sending it in front of the goal. Probably a mistake...we only killed a few seconds and they won a throw in. Too early to do that in the game.