The former Truro and Exeter keeper, now in his second spell at Plainmoor, got the nod in the absence of the injured Michael Poke and went on to keep a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw at the Kassam.
Rice has played almost 80 times in the fifth tier of English football, including a starring role in a play-off semi-final against Saturday's opponents, but had to wait nine years to make his debut in the Football League, something he was quick to play down.
"This was just another game of football as far as I was concerned," he told the Western Morning News. "If you have an early touch of the ball, it always helps. And I did that. I felt confident right through the game.
"Some people forget that I was only a kid when I first played for Exeter, but I'm 26 now.
"I was behind Bobby Olejnik last year, but I learned a lot from him and I've carried on working hard with (coach) Kenny Veysey. I didn't feel under any extra pressure."
