Sports

Men’s cross country struggles at AAC, eyes regional comeback

The Rice Owls men’s cross country team finished in eighth place in the 2024 American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships Nov. 1 in Wichita, Kansas, with 215 points. Runners said unexpected challenges left the team grappling to meet pre-race expectations.

Rice fires football head coach Mike Bloomgren

Rice Athletics announced the firing of football head coach Mike Bloomgren on Sunday, less than 24 hours after a 17-10 loss at the University of Connecticut. “As I evaluated our program and compared our current and desired trajectory, I determined new leadership is necessary to guide us into the future,” said athletic director Tommy McClelland in a statement.

10 candidates to replace Mike Bloomgren as Rice football’s head coach

Rice shook up its football leadership Sunday, firing head coach Mike Bloomgren in the middle of his seventh season at the program’s helm. Athletic director Tommy McClelland said he intends to lead a national search for Rice’s next head coach immediately. Here are 10 candidates to replace Bloomgren as the Owls look to be American Athletic Conference contenders in 2025 and beyond.

‘Pressure is a privilege’: All eyes on Rice WBB’s quest to defend title

Seven months after their American Athletic Conference tournament championship, the Rice women’s basketball team returns to the court to defend their title.

10-30-2024 Owl-American

Soccer shoots for November championships

Heading into their final game of the season last year, Rice soccer — who was already out of contention for a conference tournament title — was simply looking to win their first home game. This year, the tides have turned: They’ve only lost one home game and currently rank third place in the conference, clinching a spot in the postseason. 

10-23-2024 "Owl-American"

Faith Hutchins makes her mark during final season

Faith Hutchins, Rice soccer’s graduate goalkeeper, said that she has built her success around one key philosophy: Pressure is a privilege. It’s a mindset that has driven her through a standout season for the Owls. 

Bowl status in doubt as football splits competitive games

A win over the University of Texas at San Antonio and a loss to Tulane University have pushed Rice football to 2-5 (1-3 in AAC) heading into the home stretch of the 2024 season. 

Is Rice women’s soccer’s ‘Transfer Forward University’?

On Oct. 3, graduate forward Leah Chancey broke the Temple University defensive line and found herself face-to-face with the goalkeeper. On her first touch, she shot the ball past the keeper, marking her eighth straight game with a goal, breaking the program record and maintaining the longest active goal-scoring streak in the NCAA. 

10-08-2024 Owl-American

Sports Crossword #1

Owls in the NFL

After Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season, five former Rice Owls remain on rosters. Let’s check in on how these Rice products have performed so far this year. 

10-08-2024 score updates & what’s next

Scores from Oct. 2 to Oct. 8

Golfer Daniel Zou swings to victory

Freshman golfer Daniel Zou tied for first place at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic Oct. 1 in only his third tournament as an Owl. Though Sam Houston State University took home the team trophy, Zou and Rice junior Lukas Boandl tied with Louisiana State University’s Noah McWilliams for the individual first place title with a three-day score of 12 under par. 

Observations and adjustments after Rice football falls to Charlotte

Rice football led for more than 53 minutes during Saturday’s conference battle with the University of North Carolina  at Charlotte, but it wasn’t enough. The Owls surrendered a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining and missed a potential game-winning field goal as time expired, falling to Charlotte, 21-20.

Following two wins, volleyball seeks to land on top

Rice volleyball opened last week with two wins against Tulane University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, defending their projected first-place American Athletic Conference finish. The AAC’s Coaches Poll picked the team to finish atop the conference during their preseason, in their second year in the AAC. 

10-02-2024 "Owl-American"

10-2-2024 Scores & what’s next

Scores from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1

Rice diving makes a comeback with new talent, high hopes

After a 30-year hiatus, Rice’s diving program is back. The program is spearheaded by three-time Olympian Gabi Chereches, who represented Romania, and two divers.