University of Louisville
NOTRE DAME
Cards Edged by Notre Dame 1-0 Friday
September 28, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 28, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Amanda Cinalli scored in the 24th minute to lift Notre Dame to a 1-0 win over the University of Louisville on a spectacular Friday evening at Cardinal Park.
The match will be broadcast on a tape delayed basis locally in Louisville on WHAS-TV at 1:30 a.m. on October 3.
"I thought we played extremely well in the second half and thought we might press to get a goal, but we came up a little short on that end," said Head Coach Karen Ferguson.
"Notre Dame is legit, and we have a ton of respect for them, but we may have given them a little too much respect in the first half and we fell behind."
The Cardinals (6-2-1, 1-1-0 BIG EAST) managed to stave off a pair of Irish (4-4-1, 2-0-0) set piece opportunities in the opening minutes before Cinalli netted her third goal of the season. Cardinal keeper Joanna Haig made a solid diving stop on an initial Irish shot, but U of L was unable to clear the rebound which Cinalli finished.
Haig made two more stops in the first half, but the Cards had trouble putting together any solid threat in the attacking third in the first 45 minutes.
ND outshot the Cards 8-1 in the first half.
The Cardinals came out with renewed vigor in the second half, and worked for three shots in the first 15 minutes. Monique Gjini, Mallory Lampson and Emily Prokopik each had offensive opportunities, but could not find the net.
Shots were even in the second half at four apiece, but the Cardinals could not net the equalizer.
Haig made four saves on the evening and controlled the 18, boxing out numerous crossing attempts by the potent Irish offense.
The Cardinal back line of Erica Robinson, Meredith Tolley, Jessica Mello and Katie Owen were solid for the Cards. Defending National player of the year Kerri Hanks was held without a shot in 90 minutes of play for the Irish.
The Cardinals will next travel to Chicago on Sunday where they will face DePaul at 1:00.
