On a beautiful evening for kicking the ball at Lynn Stadium on the UofL campus, it was Cardinals vs Cardinals when Louisville vs Ball State faced off last night. Beside the 100% guarantee of being able to exclaim "Cards Win, Cards wIn!" after the match, we learned a lot about the makeup and strategy of this young UofL squad and how they plan on going about their business. The early results seem to indicate a squad that is relentless in ball pursuit and management and has some speed burners at the forward and mid-fielder positions.
Head Louisville women's soccer coach Karen Ferguson Dayes started five freshmen against the northern Cardinals and seven of the 10 frosh on the roster saw significant playing time for UofL. Louisville dominated first half action, out shooting BSU 8-1 in the first 45 minutes, but there was no score by either team in the first half.
Some of the Louisville veterans rose to the occasion in the final half.
15 minutes into play, red-shirt junior Ravin Alexander got the home team on the board on an unassisted goal to the lower left corner of the net against BSU goalie Alex DeRuvo for a 1-0 Louisville lead. 12 minutes later, it was redshirt senior Mikayla Hampton's turn, and she sent a rocket into the net off a Savina Zamborini assist for Louisville's second and final score.
The UofL squad dominated the stat sheet last night, with a 21-5 shot advantage and 56% to 44% offensive possession time edge.
The UofL defense was most impressive with Gabby Kouzelos in goal and Sarah Hernandez, Anouk Denton
and Abigail Baldridge as back line defenders.
Louisville doesn't traditionally do post-game interviews after scrimmages/exhibitions, so I got no post-game thoughts from Coach KFD, but one would think she's got to be pleased with the way UofL shut down any BSU offensive plans and also about the scoring for UofL, which was a prime area of "wondering where it would come from" after Emina Ekic graduated.
A nice crowd on hand, with a impressive turnout of fans from Muncie to root on their Cardinals. All WSOC games are free of admission this season and the only real noticeable thing missing was the UofL Pep Band. Paulie and I did hear the UofL Marching Band practicing over behind the Lacrosse Field as we walked in, maybe that was the reason the Pep Band didn't show, now that they are under the same leadership.
Ball State was a fairly formidable foe, leading the Mid-American Conference last year with a 6-3-1 record in the COVID-shortened season.
Louisville brings in another Mid-American conference foe in the Broncos of Western Michigan next. A Thursday night contest at Lynn scheduled for a 7:30 start. It's free soccer, c'mon out !!
--sonja--
Head Louisville women's soccer coach Karen Ferguson Dayes started five freshmen against the northern Cardinals and seven of the 10 frosh on the roster saw significant playing time for UofL. Louisville dominated first half action, out shooting BSU 8-1 in the first 45 minutes, but there was no score by either team in the first half.
Some of the Louisville veterans rose to the occasion in the final half.
15 minutes into play, red-shirt junior Ravin Alexander got the home team on the board on an unassisted goal to the lower left corner of the net against BSU goalie Alex DeRuvo for a 1-0 Louisville lead. 12 minutes later, it was redshirt senior Mikayla Hampton's turn, and she sent a rocket into the net off a Savina Zamborini assist for Louisville's second and final score.
The UofL squad dominated the stat sheet last night, with a 21-5 shot advantage and 56% to 44% offensive possession time edge.
The UofL defense was most impressive with Gabby Kouzelos in goal and Sarah Hernandez, Anouk Denton
and Abigail Baldridge as back line defenders.
Louisville doesn't traditionally do post-game interviews after scrimmages/exhibitions, so I got no post-game thoughts from Coach KFD, but one would think she's got to be pleased with the way UofL shut down any BSU offensive plans and also about the scoring for UofL, which was a prime area of "wondering where it would come from" after Emina Ekic graduated.
A nice crowd on hand, with a impressive turnout of fans from Muncie to root on their Cardinals. All WSOC games are free of admission this season and the only real noticeable thing missing was the UofL Pep Band. Paulie and I did hear the UofL Marching Band practicing over behind the Lacrosse Field as we walked in, maybe that was the reason the Pep Band didn't show, now that they are under the same leadership.
Ball State was a fairly formidable foe, leading the Mid-American Conference last year with a 6-3-1 record in the COVID-shortened season.
Louisville brings in another Mid-American conference foe in the Broncos of Western Michigan next. A Thursday night contest at Lynn scheduled for a 7:30 start. It's free soccer, c'mon out !!
--sonja--
