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University of Louisville
Pittsburgh
Cardinals Open ACC Play at Pittsburgh on Saturday
September 14, 2018 | Women's Soccer
Louisville will open 2018 ACC play on the road this weekend
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Off to their best start since 2012, the University of Louisville women's soccer team wrapped up nonconference play with a 6-1-0 record. Louisville dropped its first match of the season last week at Purdue, falling 2-1. The Cards bounced back on Sunday with a 5-1 win over Eastern Kentucky. Louisville freshman Maisie Whitsett led the Cardinals with two goals in the win.
Whitsett leads the Cardinals with six goals and one assist for 13 points. Junior Brooklynn Rivers is not far behind with five goals and two assists for 12 points. Junior Allison Whitfield leads the team with four assists while Nadege L'Esperance is second with three assists.
In goal, redshirt sophomore Gabby Kouzelos has started all five contests for Louisville, recording six saves and a goals against average of 0.87. 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 four NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011.
SCOUTING PITTSBURGH
Pitt closed out nonconference action with a 4-2-1 overall record. The Panthers are coming off a 2-0 defeat over rival Duquesne after having their match with No. 16 Kansas cancelled because of inclement weather.
The Panthers have had balanced scoring on offense this season. Anna Rico leads the team with three goals while Madeline Gravante has two goals on the year. Amaia Pena has made all but one start in net for the Panthers, having recorded 28 saves with a .824 save percentage and a 0.94 goals against average.
Head coach Randy Waldrum is in his first season at the helm of the Panthers. Waldrum comes to Pitt after spending three seasons with the Houston Dash. Prior to that, he coached at Notre Dame for 14 seasons.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville leads the series 6-2-0 against Pitt. The Cardinals have won the last two meetings against the Panthers. The last time the two teams played in Pittsburgh, the Cardinals won 1-0. Last season at Lynn Stadium, Louisville defeated the Pitt 3-0.
CARDINALS QUICK HITS
• Since joining the ACC in 2014, the Cardinals have compiled a 2-2 record in ACC openers.
• Louisville leads the ACC in goals per game. The Cardinals are averaging 3.0 goals per game, heading into the week.
• The Cardinals also rank ninth in the nation in scoring offense. The Cardinals also rank ninth in total goals scored.
• Allison Whitfield ranks sixth in the ACC in assists. The junior has dished out four on the season, including two game-winning assists. She also ranks 43rd in the nation in assists.
• 54.5 percent of the Cardinals' starting lineup is made up of freshman and sophomores. Two freshmen start for the Cardinals while four sophomores have earned a starting nod.
• This season the Cardinal roster has three international players. Returners Sarah Feola from Quebec, Canada, Mollie Rouse from Warwichsire England and Nadege L'Esperence is from Candiac Quebec, Canada
