Sept. 10, 2008

HOUSTON - With Hurricane Ike bearing down on the Gulf Coast, the University of Houston soccer team's match against the No. 8 Texas Longhorns will be moved up to 7 p.m. on Thursday in Austin, school officials announced on Wednesday.

The Cougars' game at LSU scheduled for Sunday will also be moved, with UH heading to Baton Rouge, La. on Tuesday, Sept. 16. A game time has yet to be determined.

Houston (3-1-0), winners of its past three contests, opens a challenging four-game road trip this week.

"We still need to improve on things offensively and defensively," head coach Susan Bush said. "We need to stick to our game plan and work as hard as we can against these teams. If we do those things, I'll be pleased with the road trip."

Freshman forward Jessica Zavalza is the reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week following her two goal performance in UH's 2-0 win over Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend.

Zavalza leads the club with three goals and six points just three games into her collegiate career.

The Longhorns own a 3-1 lead in the all-time series history with Houston. However, the Cougars' lone victory came in Austin in thrilling fashion, as they pulled out a 3-2 overtime win in 2000.