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No. 22 Cardinals Ready For NCAA Tournament Match
November 09, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2006
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's soccer program is making final preparations for their NCAA first round match against Duke, Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The 22nd-ranked Cardinals, who have established a school record with 13 wins on the season, are in Knoxville for the first trip to the NCAA in the 22-year history of the program.
For those in Knoxville, there will be a pep rally at the Downtown Marriot at 3:30 p.m. on Friday before the game with free snacks and t-shirts for Louisville fans.
Senior forward Jamie Craft, a first team All-BIG EAST selection, leads the Cardinal offense with nine goals and 24 points. Craft is second all-time in goals (42) and points (99), and she is third in assists with 15. She is the only four-time All-Conference selection in school history.
Junior Monique Gjini is second on the team with five goals and 17 points. The second-team All-BIG EAST selection has seven assists this year and 17 for her career - both totals are second in U of L history.
The team has been solid in the back all season long, and are nationally ranked in three categories. Louisville is 11th in the nation in GAA (0.50), 12th in save percentage (.872) and 28th in winning percentage (.737).
The back line has been anchored by sophomore Mallory Lampson and senior Amy Seng, who have yet to leave the field this season, logging all 1791 plus minutes through 19 matches. Sophomore Jessica Mello and freshman Sara Scharoun have played in all 19 matches in the back.
Seng has played all but 24 minutes in her distinguished Cardinal career and has started 76 matches, more than any other Cardinal.
Junior keeper Joanna Haig, an honorable mention All-BIG EAST selection this season, has seven shutouts - second in school history. Her 0.53 GAA is the top total in school history.
Haig is 15th in the country in GAA and 22nd in save % (.862).
The Blue Devils battled to a 5-4-1 mark in the powerful ACC and a 9-8-2 record overall, falling to Florida State in the first round of the conference tournament.
A pair of freshmen have paced the Duke attack this season. Kayanne Gummersall has seven goals and 16 points to lead the Blue Devils, who are making their 13th NCAA appearance. Elisabeth Redmond's three goals are all game winners, and her seven assists leads the team.
Opponents have scored 21 goals in 19 games, with Allison Lipsher manning the nets for all but 45 minutes this season, and logging seven shutouts.
The BIG EAST and ACC each sent seven teams to the round of 64, the most of any conference.
U of L is joined by Notre Dame, Rutgers, Villanova, West Virginia, Marquette and UConn in representing the BIG EAST.
The match will mark the first time the two teams have ever met.
Third-round games will be played on campus sites November 17-19, as will quarterfinal matches on November 24-26.
