Women's Soccer Falls to Marquette 2-0 on Sunday

Sunday, August 27

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

3-1

MARQUETTE

3-1

Marquette

Louisville

August 27, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Box Score Karen Ferguson Dayes Postgame Interview

Cardinals drop first match of the season to Marquette

By: Kylie Klotzbach

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville women's soccer team suffered their first loss of the season against Marquette on Sunday at Lynn Stadium, falling by a score of 2-0 to the Golden Eagles. With the loss, the Cardinals drop to 3-1 on the season.

"The game was even for all 90 minutes," said head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes, "There was an unfortunate call in the box that gives them the penalty kick, but it is what it is. That's an uncontrollable, but I think our response needs to be a little bit better. Certainly, this is a very good Marquette team, and probably a 0-0 tie would have been fair."

Neither the Cardinals nor the Golden Eagles were able to get their offenses rolling early due to stalwart defense on both ends of the field. The Cardinals put up the first shot 10 minutes into the match, but would not produce another shot until the 28th minute of the first half.

In the 38th minute, the Cardinals had a scoring opportunity on a corner kick, but were unable to convert as Alison Price's shot narrowly missed, hitting the post. Just under three minutes later, the Golden Eagles would have the potential to score on a corner kick. However, Gabrielle Kouzelos was able to make a huge save, keeping the contest scoreless to end the first half. Both teams finished with three shots, while Marquette held a 2-1 edge in corner kicks at the break.

After being locked at 0-0 over 50 minutes into the match, Marquette was able to take a 1-0 lead with a goal on a penalty kick just five minutes into the second half. Both teams' offenses would remain relatively quiet for the next 18 minutes, until the Golden Eagles extended their lead to 2-0 on a 40- yard goal from Eli Beard.

Despite playing the Golden Eagles tough for the remainder of the match, the Cardinals were unable to recover from the 2-0 deficit. In the 88th minute, Brooklyn Rivers fired up a shot, but Maddy Henry made a critical save for Marquette, prohibiting Louisville from getting on the board.

Louisville finished the match with a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks and matched the Golden Eagles with seven shots. Price led the Cardinals with two shots, while Kouzelos recorded one save on the afternoon.

The Cardinals will be back in action on Friday, September 1, traveling to Lexington, Ky. for the Battle of the Bluegrass against the Kentucky Wildcats.