Aug. 29, 2008

Box Score

Houston vs. Sam Houston State Box Score

HOUSTON - Freshman Jessica Zavalza made her first career collegiate goal a memorable one, scoring the game-winner for the University of Houston soccer team in a 3-1 win over Sam Houston State on Friday at Pritchett Field in Huntsville.

Zavalza gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead in the 24th minute, finishing of a feed from senior Christine Nieva.

Houston (1-1-0) notched its first win of the season in impressive fashion, outshooting the Bearkats 25-13 and tallying three goals in a game for the first time since the team's 3-1 victory over Houston Baptist last September.

Nieva gave UH an early 1-0 lead, finding the back of the net in the 21st minute for her second career goal as a Cougar. She helped seal the win just three minutes later, finding Zavalza for the eventual game-winner.

The Bearkats would cut the lead to 2-1 in the 56th minute, as Britini Martin finished a pass from Deanna Long for Sam Houston State's lone score.

Freshman Riley Canfield put the game away in the 69th minute, scoring her first career goal. Sophomore Islara Rodriguez found Canfield who finished skillfully after entering the game as a substitution.

The program's all-time leader in saves, senior captain Shelby Scott posted four stops to increase her career mark at 231.

The Cougars return home to Houston and will face Stephen F. Austin at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Carl Lewis International Complex.