Cardinals Fall 2-1 to No. 10 Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament

Friday, November 9

Knoxville, Tenn.

5:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

12-7

Tennessee

14-2-3

Louisville

Tennessee

Emina Ekic brings the ball up the pitch during the game against Virginia at Lynn Stadium on October 4, 2018.

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

Cardinals Fall 2-1 to No. 10 Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament

November 09, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Box Score

Cardinals end the season at in the first round of the NCAA Tournament

By: Kim Pemberton

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Louisville women's soccer team fell 2-1 to No. 10 Tennessee on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Vols scored two late second half goals to defeat the Cardinals.

"Certainly, first and foremost, congratulations to Tennessee," said head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes. "It was a hard fought battle, and we wish them well. As far as our players, and our kids, and our team, we defended our butts off. I thought we were outstanding defensively, but just couldn't get hold of the ball for long enough stretches of time to take a little pressure off of ourselves. But overall, I love the group, I love training them, I love coaching them, and I'm just sad it has come to an end."

Louisville ends a successful season with a 12-7 record overall record and a 6-4 record in the ACC. Tennessee improves to 14-2-3 on the season and advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee held possession to start the match, Bunny Shaw had the first chance in the sixth minute but hit the crossbar. Ten seconds later Gaby Kouzelos made a save and the Cards gained possession.

Nadege L'Esperance had the first shot for the Cardinals and put it on goal but UT's Shae Yanez made the save in the 13^th minute. Six minutes later, Emina Ekic took a cross from Brooklynn Rivers and found the back of the net to put Louisville up 1-0.

UT applied offensive pressure and Shaw had another shot on goal in the 21^st minute but Kouzelos made the save. Ekic had another chance in the 37^th minute but the shot went wide.

Tennessee held a 6-4 shot advantage in the first half and a 5-0 corner kick advantage as well. Kouzelos finished with two saves while Yanez finished with one.
Tennessee controlled most of possession in the second half as the Cardinals switched up their formation. The Vols had their first chance in the 59^th minute when Shaw blasted a shot but Kouzelos punched the ball out. Tennessee had another chance on a breakaway in the 70^th minute but again Kouzelos made a big save.

There was a scrum in front of the net in the 73^rd minute but the Louisville defense came up with the save. Seconds later Tennessee's Shaw sent a shot past a diving Kouzelos to score the equalizer at 74^th minute.

In the 85^th minute Shaw sent in a shot from the right side that hit the post and bounced in to put the Vols up 2-1.

Tennessee held a 16-6 shot advantage and an 11-0 corner kick advantage. Kouzelos finished with a season-high six saves while Tennessee's Shae Yanez finished with two saves.

"Obviously it's really sad, I wish we would have come out on top, but Tennessee gave us a really good game," said senior Gabrielle Vincent. "I'm really proud of my team though, I'm sad, but I'm also happy that I got to spend my last year with these girls."