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Women's Soccer Alumni Spotlight
June 01, 2017 | Women's Soccer
Featuring former standout Gina Lower
LOUISVILLE, KY. -- Gina Lower came to the University of Louisville from the Cincinnati, Ohio area after a distinguished prep career with both Lakota West High School and her Classics/Hammers FC club team.
Lower made an immediate impact at UofL, starting every game her freshman season and playing all but 15 minutes the entire year. She was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team the conclusion of the year.
She followed up a stellar freshman campaign by earning third team All-Conference USA honors her sophomore year. Lower led the back line for the Cardinals that cut their goals allowed in half from the previous season.
In 2003, Lower was forced to sit out due to an injury prior to the start of the season. But she returned in 2004 for a very strong year personally and for the Cardinals as well.
As co-captain Lower earned All-Conference USA first team honors as well as third team Soccer Buzz All-Region honors. She would start all 18 games for the Cardinals again as the leader of a back line responsible for the best season-wide defensive performance in Louisville women's soccer history. The 2004 Cardinals set numerous defensive records that still stand to this day. Some of those notable records include most shutouts (11), fewest goals allowed (18) and lowest goals against average (0.86).
Lower would play her final season for the Cardinals in the inaugural year of the Big East. Lower would once again start in every game for the Cardinals, anchoring a very good back line. The Cardinals would eventually finish the year with an 11-8-0 record and a winning record in the extremely competitive Big East. Without a doubt, Lower was a big part of Louisville's success in that first season of big East competition.
The conference transition put Louisville women's soccer on an elevated stage nationally. Ultimately, the success Louisville would see in the big East in the years after that initial 2005 season would establish the Cardinals as one of the elite women's soccer programs in across the country.
The success of the 2005 Cardinals certainly paved the way for future teams to compete in the conference. Lower's impact on the program both on and off the field during this period cannot be overstated.
Looking back on Lower's career, Karen Ferguson-Dayes had this to say
"Gina Lower was the complete package, a very smart young woman, a tremendous soccer player and an excellent team captain and leader. Gina pursued excellence in every facet of her life and I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to coach her."
Lower made an immediate impact at UofL, starting every game her freshman season and playing all but 15 minutes the entire year. She was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team the conclusion of the year.
She followed up a stellar freshman campaign by earning third team All-Conference USA honors her sophomore year. Lower led the back line for the Cardinals that cut their goals allowed in half from the previous season.
In 2003, Lower was forced to sit out due to an injury prior to the start of the season. But she returned in 2004 for a very strong year personally and for the Cardinals as well.
As co-captain Lower earned All-Conference USA first team honors as well as third team Soccer Buzz All-Region honors. She would start all 18 games for the Cardinals again as the leader of a back line responsible for the best season-wide defensive performance in Louisville women's soccer history. The 2004 Cardinals set numerous defensive records that still stand to this day. Some of those notable records include most shutouts (11), fewest goals allowed (18) and lowest goals against average (0.86).
Lower would play her final season for the Cardinals in the inaugural year of the Big East. Lower would once again start in every game for the Cardinals, anchoring a very good back line. The Cardinals would eventually finish the year with an 11-8-0 record and a winning record in the extremely competitive Big East. Without a doubt, Lower was a big part of Louisville's success in that first season of big East competition.
The conference transition put Louisville women's soccer on an elevated stage nationally. Ultimately, the success Louisville would see in the big East in the years after that initial 2005 season would establish the Cardinals as one of the elite women's soccer programs in across the country.
The success of the 2005 Cardinals certainly paved the way for future teams to compete in the conference. Lower's impact on the program both on and off the field during this period cannot be overstated.
Looking back on Lower's career, Karen Ferguson-Dayes had this to say
"Gina Lower was the complete package, a very smart young woman, a tremendous soccer player and an excellent team captain and leader. Gina pursued excellence in every facet of her life and I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to coach her."
Thank You, Coach: Karen Ferguson-Dayes Announces Retirement
Thursday, February 19
WSOC: Karen Ferguson-Dayes Presser (11/17/25)
Monday, November 17
NCAA Tournament: Louisville vs. Kentucky
Monday, November 17
WSOC: Mackenzie Geigle and Erynn Floyd Presser (vs. Kentucky/NCAA Tournament - 11/15/25)
Saturday, November 15
