Cardinals Drop Overtime Heartbreaker at No. 1 Wake Forest

Sunday, November 8

Winston-Salem, NC

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

7-9-3, 1-4-3ACC

Wake Forest

15-1-2, 6-0-2ACC

OT 2

Louisville

Wake Forest

Joey Kunkel - ACC Championship QF Celebration

Joey Kunkel celebrates his first goal in Sunday's loss at Wake Forest. (Photo: Brian Westerholt)

Cardinals Drop Overtime Heartbreaker at No. 1 Wake Forest

November 08, 2015 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Louisville ends season with ACC quarterfinal loss after Demon Deacons score in 95th minute

By: Garett Wall

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Louisville men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking end to its season on Sunday afternoon at Spry Stadium with a 2-1 overtime loss to No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Wake Forest in the quarterfinal round of the 2015 ACC Championship.

Jacori Hayes delivered the game-winning goal in the 95th minute when he controlled a deflected cross in the 18-yard box and scored inside the far right post to advance the Demon Deacons (15-1-2) to an ACC semifinal matchup with Notre Dame. Ricky Greensfelder was credited with the assist on the clinching goal after his crossing pass deflected off Louisville junior goalkeeper Theo Jamilloux before setting at the feet of Hayes, who scored his fifth goal of the season to end the match.

After facing an early deficit on Sunday, Louisville battled back to even the score and eventually push the match into overtime after sophomore Joey Kunkel scored his first collegiate goal in the 72nd minute. With the loss, the Cardinals close their 2015 season with a 7-9-3 record overall while falling to 1-2-3 in six overtime matches in 2015.

The Demon Deacons struck first on Sunday when freshman Jack Harrison scored his eighth goal of the season to give the home side a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. After controlling the ball near the top of the 18-yard box, Harrison moved to his left before firing a shot inside the right post for the early advantage.

After keeping the deficit at just one goal through the completion of the first half and for much of the second half, Louisville found the equalizer at the 71:30 mark when Kunkel finished a free kick chance for the Cardinals. Freshman Danny Reynolds took the free kick sending it inside the 18-yard box, where sophomore Jack Gayton deflected the ball into the six-yard box to Kunkel, who finished inside the far right post. Reynolds was credited with his fourth assist of the season, while Gayton was awarded his third assist.

Wake Forest closed the match with an 18-8 advantage in shots, including a 9-5 edge in shots on goal. The Demon Deacons also finished the match with a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks. Jamilloux finished with a season-high seven saves in the loss for the Cardinals, while Alec Ferrell had four saves for the home side.

With the 2015 season reaching its culmination for the Cardinals, freshman Tate Schmitt led the team with seven goals and added four assists while playing all 19 matches, including 13 starts. Sophomore Tim Kubel finished with five goals and three assists in 19 starts and junior Daniel Johnson added five goals in his 19 matches.

Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter (@UofLmenssoccer) at http://twitter.com/uoflmenssoccer and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UofLmenssoccer.