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Louisville Set for NCAA Match with Illini Friday
November 15, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 15, 2007
2007 NCAA Women's Soccer Bracket 
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The University of Louisville women's soccer team is making final preparations for their NCAA First Round match against Illinois Friday at Alumni Field. The game will kick off at 5:00 p.m. ET with the winner advancing to a second round match Sunday at 12:00 p.m. against the winner of Friday's Notre Dame vs. Loyola-Chicago tilt.
With one of the top defensive teams in the nation, the Cards have allowed just 10 goals this season. The Cardinals rank in the top seven in three national categories; GAA (4th - 0.446), shutout % (7th) and they lead the nation in save % (.904).
Senior GK Joanna Haig is 8th in GAA (0.446) and tops in the country in save %(.904) nationally. The Cardinals have not allowed goals in consecutive matches this season.
A school record five Cardinals were named to BIG EAST All-Conference teams, headlined by first team selection Monique Gjini. Gjini, was joined by Haig and Shannon Smyth, who were selected to the second team, and Kelsey Hunyadi and Jessica Mello, third team selections. Gjini, a senior midfielder, was honored for the third time in her Cardinal career, making the third team as a sophomore and second team last season. Mello was also selected to the BIG EAST All-Tournament team following the conclusion of the 2007 BIG EAST Championship.
Smyth leads the team in goals (6), assists (3) and points (15). Her five game winning goals lead the BIG EAST. She has scored twice in double overtime and once in overtime.
Head Coach Karen Ferguson is the winningest coach in school history, compiling 66 wins in her seven plus seasons. With a record-tying 13 wins in 2007, she has now been at the helm of four of the five teams that have notched double figures in wins, setting a school record with 12 in 2004, 11 in 2005 and again breaking the school record with 13 in 2006.
The Illini possess a high scoring offense that ranks 31st in the nation, averaging a little over two goals per game. Fifteen of the 39 goals have some in three lopsided victories over Xavier (5-0), Northridge (4-0) and Iowa(6-0).
Ella Masar, a senior forward has 11 goals and three assists for a team-best 25 points. Chichi Nweke's six assists is the top total for Illinois. The Illini are 6-2-2 in their last 10, with both losses coming at the hands of Purdue. The Illini were eliminated from the Big 10 tournament by Purdue in the semifinals. Masar and junior defender Emily Zurrer earned first team All-Big Ten honors.
The Cardinals (13-5-2) are participating in the NCAA postseason for the second time in as many seasons, and in the history of the program. They made their first trip to the BIG EAST semifinals, and just the second trip to a conference tournament final four in school history when they faced host West Virginia, losing a 1-0 heartbreaker in double overtime last Friday.
This will mark the second time the Cards have played the Illini, with Illinois (11-6-2) coming away from the Ville with a 9-0 win over the Cards on September 13, 1998.
