Box Score

HOUSTON, Tex. - The sixth-seeded Rice Owls pulled-off one of the biggest upsets in Western Athletic Conference Championship Tournament history, defeating third-seeded Hawaii, 2-0 on a pair of Caitlin Currie goals to bring the Rainbow Wahine's record-breaking campaign to an end. Rice cracked the scoreboard at 65:17 when Caitlin Currie put a rebound of a clearance attempt by Hawaii into the net with a hard right-footer from 20 yards out. Owl Kristen Lindsay's corner kick was headed away from the goal mouth by a leaping Natasha Kai. The ball rolled-out to Currie, setting her up for her first score of the season.

Sixth seed Rice and third-seeded Hawaii went without a shot by either team for the first 16 minutes of action, The Owls recorded their first legitimate attempt when Jennifer Teeter missed just wide of the frame from about six yards out. The Owls had another opportunity soon after, when Sarah Yoder missed just wide on a right-footer from 30 yards out on the angle.

Moments later, Arlene Devitt gave Hawaii its first opportunity when she ran onto a long diagonal pass from Sasha Araya-Schraner, took control of the ball in the far corner, shook her defender and sent a strong, low, left-footed cross across the front of the goal. The ball was tipped by a Rice defender and deflected over the end line. Erin Quattromani's corner kick did not generate a shot attempt.

In the 43rd minute WAC Player of the Year Kai made her first run at goal when she beat Rice keeper Amanda Garrison to a looping pass from Seline Williams near the goal, and chipped the ball right to the open goal mouth. With a number of players scrambling for the ball, Natalie Groenewoud broke through for the attempt, but her right-footed, first-time attempt sailed wide from about seven yards out.

Leading scorer Kai initiated the first scoring chance by either team three minutes into the second period when she was fouled while pulling away on breakaway opportunity. But Quattromani's attempted service into the Rice penalty box did not generate a shot.

Entering the contest, the Wahine offensive attack had established itself as the finest in school history, in the conference and in the nation. Tonight's seven shots by Hawaii were well below their 19.47 shots per match average.

Playing in her first match since Oct. 27, .Devitt almost helped Hawaii even the score with about 15 minutes remaining in the second half when she sent Kai through for a breakaway. Kai was pulled-down in the Owl penalty box as she was readying to get her shot off, but no foul was whistled.

Another Currie goal at 81:41 on another corner kick gave the Owls a 2-0 advantage with under 10 minutes left to play. Currie, who sat at the top of the penalty box, hit on a free ball that bounced out to her for her second score of the night and her season.

Mahie Atay, who was named to the All-WAC second team earlier in the week, saw Rice take advantage of their few opportunities. With just seven shots apiece in the match, Hawaii and Rice played a large portion of the contest between the penalty boxes. Currie's two goals were the only Rice shots taken on frame.