Cardinals Fall 5-1 at No. 3 North Carolina

Saturday, September 29

Chapel Hill, NC

12:30 p.m.

University of Louisville

9-2,ACC 3-1

North Carolina

9-2-1,ACC 4-0

Louisville

North Carolina

September 29, 2018 | Women's Soccer

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Cards can't overcome four UNC first half goals, fall 5-1

By: Kim Pemberton

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 24 University of Louisville women's soccer team fell to No. 3 North Carolina 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at the WakeMed Soccer Park. Emina Ekic scored first for the Cardinals but Louisville could not overcome the four UNC goals in the first half.

Louisville falls to 9-2 on the season and 3-1 in the ACC. The Tar Heels improve to 9-2-1 overall and 4-0 in the ACC, taking over first place in the league.

The Cardinals struck early, Ekic scored off a through ball from Brookynn Rivers for a 1-0 lead. Ekic had another chance in the 12^th minute but her shot hit the cross bar. Four minutes later the Tar Heels were awarded a free kick outside the box. Alessia Russo sent the shot past Gabby Kouzelos to tie the match at 1-1.

Three minutes later the Tar Heels took a 2-1 lead off of Russo's second goal of the day. Rivers had back-to-back chances in the 27^th minute. Then UNC's Dorian Bailey made it 3-1 in the 29^th minute. North Carolina was awarded a penalty kick in the 33^rd minute. Taylor Otto converted the kick to give the Tar Heels a 4-1 lead.

North Carolina finished the first half with a 10-5 shot advantage and a 3-2 corner kick advantage. Kouzelos finished with three saves.

The Cardinal defense buckled down in the second half, allowing just three shots. The Tar Heels also held Louisville to three second half shots.

In the 48^th minute the Heels were awarded another penalty kick and Otto converted her second penalty kick of the match for a 5-1 UNC lead. Louisville's best chance in the second half was in the 70^th minute with a shot by Kiley Polk that was saved.

North Carolina outshot the Cardinals 13-8 for the match and held a 6-3 advantage in corners. Kouzelos finished with four saves while UNC's Samantha Leshnak finished with two saves.

The Cardinals will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 4 as they host No. 6 Virginia at Lynn Stadium. The match will kick off at 7 p.m.