April 24, 2008 - MEGA MATCHUP: RICE OVER BEARS


The four-time defending state champion Bears were locked in a matchup of top 15 teams last weekend at Brother Rice.

"It was a shootout. It was up and down," Wolford said. UA jumped to a 6-1 lead though Rice rallied for a 8-7 lead at halftime. The Bears were down in the second half before drawing within a goal with 2:20 to play. "We got some good looks but couldn't convert the rest of the way." 8th-ranked Rice emerged 14-13 over the 14th-rated Bears. The teams split two meetings in 2007. Rice won 7-6 at UA in overtime before the Golden Bears emerged in the Midwest tournament semifinals, beating homestanding Rice, 10-3, before a raucous home crowd.