University of Louisville
Butler
Women's Soccer Wins Season Opener 3-1 at Butler
August 22, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 22, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - For the seventh time in nine seasons under Head Coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes, the University of Louisville women's soccer team opened the season with a victory, topping Butler 3-1 Friday afternoon.
"It is always great to start your season off with a win," Ferguson-Dayes said.
"Butler came out and battled hard, but we tried to stay composed and created some good opportunities."
Louisville wasted no time, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening minute on a goal by junior Lindsay Boling 48 seconds into the match.
Senior co-captain Mallory Lampson headed a clearing attempt by the Bulldogs (0-1-0) back into the attacking third where sophomore Chelsea Spencer flicked it on to Boling. The Louisville Sacred Heart graduate then tucked a shot off of the crossbar to stake the Cards to an early advantage.
Butler had an answer in the 36th minute when Mandi Kotynski beat Cardinal keeper Chloe Kiefer for the equalizer.
In the 41st minute, freshman Caitlin Beck gathered another clearing attempt by the Bulldogs and took a touch before sending a shot from 35 yards out over Butler keeper Jessica Schein's head into the upper right corner, putting the Cardinals back in top 2-1.
After fellow freshman Jennifer Jones had her shot attempt turned away in the 43rd minute by Schein, the Cards went into the intermission with a 2-1 lead.
Despite outshooting the Bulldogs 5-1 in the first half, Ferguson-Dayes felt the team played better in the second 45 minutes.
"In the second half we sorted some things out and we were able to take control of the game."
Again, the Cardinals struck very quickly.
Sophomore Caitlin Rehder, who was extremely effective all match long taking players and beating them 1v1, dribbled up the right side and cut across the back line before slipping a perfect feed to freshman Ashley Auld. Auld buried the cross into the back of the net for a 3-1 lead, just 2:38 into the second half.
Auld later placed a shot on in the 60th minute that was turned away by Schein. Butler threatened again in the 81st minute, but was turned away by Kiefer.
The freshman played all 90 minutes in net to earn the win.
Auld and Kate Cunningham each had two shots to pace the Cardinal attack.
The Cardinal defense limited the Bulldogs to just two shots on net.
Louisville is now 14-8-2 in season openers in the school's history, including four straight wins. UofL now holds a 4-3-1 edge over Butler in the all-time series.
The Cardinals will open the home portion of the 2008 season when they host 8th-ranked Texas, a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2007, on Sunday, August 31 at 1:00 p.m. ET in Cardinal Park.
It is not only the first meeting between the teams, but the first time the Cardinals will face a team in the Big 12.
For ticket information, call 502.852.5151.
