University of Louisville
OHIO
Boling Lifts Cards Over Ohio 2-1 In Overtime
August 26, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 26, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville freshman Lindsay Boling tucked her first collegiate goal inside the near post just 55 seconds into the first overtime to lead the Cardinals to a thrilling 2-1 win over Ohio in the season opener Friday night at Cardinal Park.
This preseason, for the first time in program history, the Louisville women's soccer team appeared in the NSCAA /adidas National Rankings, receiving votes that placed the team 29th in the preseason poll. After a 2-0 preseason, Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson, who is now 5-1-1 in openers with the Cards, felt the ranking was evident on both sides of the ball.
"Tremendous job by Ohio. This game was indicative of the national attention we're drawing. It's definitely going to be that way for every team we play because we've got a target on our back now."
"We're going to draw the best game of every opponent we have and it's a pressure situation for these guys and I told our players that pressure is a privilege. It means you're arrived and people are taking notice of you. It's a good situation to be in, now we've just got to have the experience in these types of games."
The Bobcats took a 1-0 lead on the Cardinals a little over 11 minutes into the match on Jasmine Merith's first career goal.
In the 28th minute, Monique Gjini worked her way up the near endline on a spectacular individual effort, before she was hauled down in the box, forcing a penalty kick. The junior from Edmonton, Alberta hesitated on her approach before beating the Ohio keeper to the lower left corner to tie the match at one.
U of L held a 6-5 edge in shots in the first half.
The teams battled back and forth in the second half, with Louisville earning the best scoring opportunity when Lindsey Fox broke loose on the right side in the 69th minute and found Jamie Craft in front, but her shot spun just wide.
The Cardinal defense got stronger as the game progressed, limiting the Bobcats to one shot over the final 58 minutes. Senior Amy Seng, sophomores Mallory Lampson and Jessica Mello along with freshmen Katie Owen, Ashley Thompson and Sara Scharoun anchored a solid defense.
Ferguson was especially pleased with Scharoun, who played all 91 minutes and enjoyed her collegiate debut.
"I think we did really well today. We came off of a strong preseason and it showed in our game. We're really joining together well as a team and I think the future looks really bright for us this season. I had a blast my first game."
Gjini was also impressed with the Cardinal defense.
"I thought it was a great team effort, the whole game. Our back four are so strong and I'm confident we'll do well this season."
On the game winner, Craft, who along with Fox had been hounded by Ohio center back Rachael Goulding the entire game, got loose on the right side. Craft worked the ball in to Boling, who turned and squeezed a shot between the keeper and the near post to win it.
Craft had three shots to pace the U of L attack, with Fox, Gjini and Boling each collecting two
The Cardinals will be on the road Sunday in Oxford, Ohio where they will take on Miami(OH) at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Cardinals and RedHawks meet for the fifth time, with Louisville winning last season's match 3-0 behind two goals from Gjini.
