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University of Louisville
CINCINNATI
Cardinals Roll Over Bearcats 4-1
September 14, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 14, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Senior Jamie Craft had two goals and an assist and junior Jen Avila added her first career two-goal game as the University of Louisville opened BIG EAST play with a 4-1 win over rival Cincinnati Wednesday night. The game, broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel, was the first national TV appearance for the Cardinals.
Louisville is now 5-0-1 overall to go with a 1-0-0 mark in league play, the best start to a season in school history.
"What helped us gain great momentum was the first 15 minutes," said Head Coach Karen Ferguson.
Louisville applied immediate pressure when Avila hit the crossbar at 1:34 and Shannon Smyth rocketed the rebound off the post.
The Cardinals then jumped out to a 1-0 lead just five and a half minutes into the match when Craft sent Avila in alone and the junior forward cashed in for her second goal of the season.
"A start like that is difficult for an opponent to overcome," Ferguson added.
The 1-0 lead carried into the break with the Cards outshooting the Bearcats (3-3-1, 0-1-0 BIG EAST) 9-2 in the first 45 minutes.
Louisville wasted no time at the beginning of the second half, taking a 2-0 lead on Avila's second goal of the match at 46:51.
Junior Laura Walker moved the ball ahead to fellow junior Monique Gjini who continued the third-year connection by finding Avila in front for the finish and her third goal of the season.
U of L extended the lead to 3-0 in the 55th minute when freshman Lindsey Fox served a perfect feed to Craft who beat UC keeper Andrea Kaminski low, just inside the far post.
The Bearcats got on the board in the 63rd minute on Lindsey Noteboom's first goal of the season, cutting the lead to 3-1. The goal came off of a strange play.
With two players down injured, Louisville knocked the ball out of bounds to allow the trainers on the field. When play restarted, the UC player told her teammates to drop off and in a quality show of sportsmanship, she threw the ball in to Louisville left back Sara Scharoun. One of the UC players appeared not to recognize what was going on and immediately pressured Scharoun. Caught off guard, Scharoun lost control of the ball setting up the goal.
Louisville responded with the final goal of the match in the 75th minute when Craft capped the evening with her fourth of the season, unassisted.
Craft now has four goals and a career-high five assists in six games this season. She is second all-time in goals (37) and points (88) and tied for third in assists (14) in Cardinal history.
The Cardinals continued their dominance on shots, holding a 10-2 advantage in the second half. Avila had five shots to lead the offense, and after scoring a total of four goals in her first two seasons, she has exploded for three in the past two games. Craft added four shots, while Smyth and Fox each had three.
The Cards, who are currently receiving votes in the NSCAA and Soccer Buzz polls, have now won four straight over the Bearcats.
Louisville will hit the road Sunday, traveling to Bowling Green where they will face Western Kentucky (3-2-1) Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET for the final non-conference match of the season. Last season the Cards defeated the Hilltoppers 5-0 in Louisville.
The Cards will be back home on Friday, September 22 at 7:00 p.m. to host DePaul.
For tickets, call 502.852.2159.
