University of Louisville
Tennessee
Cardinals Face Second-seeded Tennessee in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament
November 08, 2018 | Women's Soccer
Louisville faces a tough test on the road Friday night
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Louisville women's soccer team received an at-large bid into the 2018 NCAA Championship and will travel to No. 12 Tennessee in a first round game on Friday at 5 p.m., ET at Regal Soccer Stadium. Louisville, finished tied for fifth in the ACC with a record of 6-4, will be making their fifth NCAA Championship appearance.
Junior forward Brooklynn Rivers leads the Cardinals' offense with eight goals and six assists for 22 points. Whitsett is Louisville's top goal-scorer with nine on the season and has also added two assists for 20 points. Emina Ekic rounds out the leading-scorers with six goals and five assists for 17 points.
Redshirt sophomore Gabby Kouzelos has started all 16 matches in goal for the Cardinals, registering 29 saves and a goals against average of 0.94. Senior Gabrielle Vincent anchors the Cardinals' defense at centerback.
Head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes is in her 19th season with the Cardinals. She has led Louisville to five NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE
Tennessee enters the weekend with a 13-2-3 record overall and has been ranked in the top 25 of the United Soccer Coaches poll every week this season and currently sits No. 9 in the RPI. Tennessee will be making its second-straight NCAA appearance and 12th overall since 2001. UT has an 11-9-3 record in the tournament and has reached the Sweet 16 five times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007).
In their last match, the second-seeded Tennessee Volunteers were eliminated on PKs following a 1-1 draw against No. 7 seed LSU in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. UT finished second in the SEC with a 7-2-1 conference record. The Volunteers are led by SEC Offensive Player of the Year Bunny Shaw.
Head coach Brian Pensky is in his seventh season at the helm of the Tennessee soccer program. Pensky has coached the Vols to three NCAA Tournament Appearances (2012, 17, 18).
SERIES HISTORY
Friday's matchup will be the second meeting between the two teams. Tennessee won the first meeting 6-0 in Nashville on Oct. 30, 1998.
