HOUSTON - The Rice Soccer team's upcoming road trip to California, where the Owls were going to play matches at San Jose State (Sept. 1, Friday) and Saint Mary’s (Sept. 3, Sunday), have been cancelled due to travel complications stemming from the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey.

 

The two California matches will not be rescheduled. Rice University has announced there will be no classes through Sept. 4 (Monday), but the school’s police and emergency personnel have remained on-duty.

 

“It's been a tough, difficult and emotional week for our city and very difficult to focus on soccer,” said Rice head soccer coach Nicky Adams, now in her seventh full season at the helm of the program. “We have so many family and friends that have been affected by this storm. Of course we are disappointed that we cannot get out to play San Jose State and St. Mary's, but the safety of our players is the most important. We appreciate all the prayers and encouraging words that have been pouring in from the entire soccer community.”

 

The Owls (1-1-1 overall) stepped on to a soccer field on Wednesday morning (Aug. 30), the team’s first time on the pitch since playing No. 26 ranked Baylor on Aug. 24 (Thursday). That contest, which was moved up one day from Aug. 25 to get ahead of the impending weather, finished in a 0-0 tie after two overtime periods with no complications.