Women's Soccer Hosts Top Ranked North Carolina on Thursday Night

LOUISVILLE, KY. -- The University of Louisville women's soccer team kicks off a three-game home stand against No. 1 North Carolina on Thursday evening at Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium.

The Tar Heels will be the second No. 1 ranked team that the Cardinals have faced in program history and it will also be the first time the Cards have hosted a No. 1 ranked team at home.

Louisville enters the match with an overall record of 6-5-1 and a 2-2-0 record in ACC play after defeating Syracuse 1-0 on the road last Sunday. Sophomore Isabella Habuda scored for the second consecutive game when she beat the keeper on a pass from Aubrey Baker in the 12th minute.

For the season, nine Cardinals have scored this season with redshirt-senior Casey Whitfield, sophomores Alison Price and Habuda leading the way with two goals. Price adds an assist with her two goals for five points, which is tied for second on the team. Senior Rachel Avant adds a goal and a team-high three assists for five points. Junior goalkeepers Taylor Bucklin (35 saves) and Paige Brown (14 saves) have both seen time in goal this season with the two combining for a 0.90 goals against average.

Head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes is in her 16th season with the Cardinals. She has guided Louisville to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011.

SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina enters Thursday's matchup as the top ranked team in the nation with an overall record of 11-0-1 and 4-0 in conference play after defeating Boston College 2-0 last weekend. Redshirt senior

Alexa Newfield leads the Tar Heels with seven goals while senior forward Summer Green and sophomore forward Jessie Scarpa add six goals apiece for the team. Scarpa adds a team-high six assists along with her six goals for a team-best 18 points. Senior Bryane Heaberlin and redshirt junior goalkeeper Lindsey Harris split time in goal with the two combining for 14 saves and boasting a 0.41 goals against average.

Anson Dorrance is in his 37th season as the head women's soccer coach at North Carolina. Dorrance is the winningest coach in NCAA soccer history and has won 22 national championships with the Tar Heels.

THE SERIES
The Cardinals and Tar Heels will meet for the first time in school history.

CARDS HOST No. 1 RANKED TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME
Already playing at one of the premiere soccer stadiums in the country, a chance stands for Louisville to make history this Thursday when the Cardinals welcome No. 1 North Carolina to Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium. The matchup will just be the second time in history that Louisville has faced the No. 1 ranked team and the first at Lynn Stadium. In the lone matchup against a No. 1 team, the Cardinals fell at No. 1 Notre Dame 2-0 in 2006.

LOUISVILLE SOCCER TICKETS
Single match tickets are available through the Louisville Cardinals Ticket Office. Reserved chairback tickets are set at $12 for adults and $6 for youth. Fans can purchase online through www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at (502) 852-5151 or in-person at the Louisville Cardinals Ticket Office located at Gate 2 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Tickets can also be purchased on match days at Lynn Stadium starting one hour prior to kickoff.

Season tickets start as low as $45 and can be purchased by calling the Louisville Cardinals Ticket Office at (502) 852-0120 or (502) 852-5151. Season tickets for 2015 include every regular season home match for both the men's and women's soccer programs.

FOLLOWING THE CARDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter (@ULwomenssoccer) at http://twitter.com/ulwomenssoccer and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulwomenssoccer.

Women's Soccer Hosts Top Ranked North Carolina on Thursday Night

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Players Mentioned

Rachel Avant

Aubrey Baker

Paige Brown

Taylor Bucklin

Isabella Habuda

Alison Price

Casey Whitfield

University of Louisville Athletics