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University of Louisville
SYRACUSE
No. 23 Cardinals Smother Syracuse 2-0
October 01, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 1, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jen Avila and Monique Gjini each scored a goal as the 23rd-ranked University of Louisville women's soccer team blanked Syracuse 2-0 Sunday afternoon at Frazier Cardinal Park.
"We were sloppy and lethargic to start the match, but we were able to refocus in the second half," noted Head Coach Karen Ferguson.
Monique Gjini and Lindsey Fox both saw shots stopped by Syracuse keeper Eliza Bennett-Hattan in the first 20 minutes of play.
Avila broke a scoreless tie in the waning minutes of the first half when she capitalized on a Syracuse turnover and beat a defender and Bennett for Avila's fifth of the season and a 1-0 Cardinal lead at 42:05. Avila has five goals and an assist in the last seven games.
U of L held a 6-2 shot advantage in the first half despite Syracuse's 4-5-1.
Heather Engel's header of an Amy Seng cross was stopped on the goal line by a Orange defender in the 52nd minute.
Gjini picked up a pass from Avila at midfield and dribbled to the top of the box where she drilled home her fifth goal of the season in the 56th minute for the 2-0 advantage.
The Cardinals (9-1-1, 4-1-0 BIG EAST) had 10 shots in the second half to Syracuse's two.
"We began to control the rhythm in the second half which allowed us to create better chances," Ferguson added.
Gjini had four shots to lead the Cardinals, while freshman Lindsay Boling had three.
Joanna Haig, behind a strong Cardinal defense notched her second shutout of the week, making two saves.
Louisville will close out the home portion of the schedule with a pair of BIG EAST matches. Friday night, 25th-ranked Villanova visits Cardinal Park at 7:00 and Sunday afternoon at 1:00 U of L will honor four seniors on Senior Day prior to facing Georgetown.
