HOUSTON — The Sam Houston soccer team opened the 2021 season with a 4-0 loss to Rice at Holloway Field on Thursday night.
 
The Owls struck first in the opening minutes. Vyviene Spaulding found the net thanks to an assist by Bella Killgore on a free kick in the third minute.
 
Rice went up two when Delaney Schultz scored a minute and a half later off an assist by Serena Pham. The Owls made it 3-0 in the seventh minute when Schultz scored her second goal of the match off a rebound.
 
Schultz made it a hat trick when she scored again to push the advantage to 4-0 in the 20^th minute. This time it was off a cross from Catarin Albuquerque.
 
Rice's defense held the Bearkats to only six shots, none of which were on goal. Sam Houston's defense settled in in the second half and kept the Owls off the board as goalkeeper Abby DeLozier came off the bench to save eight shots.
 
Sam Houston hits the road again Sunday when the Kats travel to LSC for a 1 p.m. match.