University of Louisville
#16 Connecticut
Cards Edged By No. 16 UCONN 2-1 Sunday
October 02, 2005 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 2, 2005
STORRS, Conn. - Freshman Shannon Smyth's header in the 28th minute put the University of Louisville women's soccer team up 1-0 on 16th-ranked UCONN, but the Cardinals could not hold off the Huskies on alumnae weekend as they edged U of L 2-1 Sunday.
"I am extremely proud of the our effort today," said Cardinal Head Coach Karen Ferguson.
"We played a very good Connecticut team, and were up a goal. I think we defended a little too much in the second half and maybe played a little not to lose instead of being a little more aggressive and going for the win."
Junior forward Jamie Craft served the ball in front of the net from the left side where Smyth buried it for her third goal of the season and a 1-0 Cards (8-4-1, 3-2-0 BIG EAST) lead.
Louisville carried the lead into the break, trailing the Huskies (9-2-1, 5-0-0 BIG EAST) 5-3 in the shot column.
UCONN pressured the Cardinals in the second half, launching 13 shots against the Louisville defense.
Kristi Lefebvre finished a cross from Niki Cross at 56:07 to tie the game at one, and in the 61st minute Cross finished a pass from Brittany Tegeler for the game winner.
Cardinal keeper Deana Waintraub made a career-high nine saves on the afternoon.
There were other players that stood out on the afternoon according to Ferguson.
"Monique Gjini was fantastic and showed that she can be one of the best midfielders in the BIG EAST."
"This was a successful weekend with the win on Friday, and games like today can only make up better," Ferguson added.
"We are now going to rebound, refocus and prepare for the upcoming weekend in the BIG EAST."
Louisville will remain on the road, when they travel to Washington, D.C. to face Georgetown on Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET, and Philadelphia to meet Villanova on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
