Cardinals Fall to No. 8 Virginia, 1-0

Thursday, October 4

LOUISVILLE, KY

7:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

9-3-0, 3-2

VIRGINIA

10-2-0, 3-2

Virginia

Louisville

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

October 04, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Box Score Coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes Postgame

Cardinals unable to find the equalizer following an early goal

By: Alexis Chevalier

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Despite a solid effort on the field, the University of Louisville women's soccer team was unable to overcome an early goal by No. 8 Virginia, falling 1-0 on Thursday night at Lynn Stadium. Louisville falls to 9-3 on the season and 3-2 in the ACC. Virginia moves to 10-2 and 3-2 in the ACC.

"I think tonight we were really, really good on the soccer field and came up short against an outstanding Virginia team," said head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes. "We might have lost on the field, but I think we took some giant steps forward in terms of our performance."

The lone goal of the match came in the seventh minute, when Virginia's Meghan McCool took a cross inside the box and slipped the shot past Gabby Kouzelos.

Louisville's best chance for the equalizer in the first half came in the 43^rd minute with a shot from Taylor Kerwin shot from just outside. Virginia's goalkeeper was able to get in front of it to keep the Cavaliers in the lead.

Following the goal, Louisville's defense remained strong throughout the rest of the first half, holding the Cavaliers to just one shot. The Cardinals finished with two shots while Virginia held a 1-0 lead in corner kicks to end the half.

After the break, the Cardinals came out with three chances in the first 15 minutes but were unable to convert any of them into results. Emina Ekic had the first chance for the Cardinals in the 48^th minute on a free kick, which sailed high. In the 57^th minute, Brooklynn Rivers then found Kerwin in the box but the shot was blocked by a Virginia defender. Finally, Maisie Whitsett had the best second half chance for the Cardinals in the 60^th minute when she launched a shot that went just high and hit off the crossbar.

In the 68^th minute, Ekic found herself on a breakaway that turned into a one-on-one situation with a Virginia defender. Ekic sent a cross inside the box but it was intercepted by a defender.

Virginia edged the Cardinals in shots 5-4 while also leading with a 3-2 advantage in corners. Both keepers finished with one save apiece.

Louisville continues their two-match home stand on Sunday when they host Miami on Senior Day at noon. The Cardinals will honors seniors Kennadi Carbin and Gabrielle Vincent in a pre-game ceremony.