Cardinals Fall at Purdue, 2-1

Thursday, September 6

West Lafayette, IN

7:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

5-1-0

Purdue

4-1-1

Louisville

Purdue

Women's Soccer player Maisie Whitsett with a breakaway against Xavier.

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

September 06, 2018 | Women's Soccer

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Cards fall for the first time this season at Purdue

By: Kim Pemberton

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The No. 24 University of Louisville women's soccer team fell 2-1 at Purdue on Thursday night at Folk Field. The loss is the first for the Cardinals this season, falling to 5-1-0 on the season while the Boilermakers improve to 5-1-1 on the year.

Louisville took control early on the offensive end and it paid off in the 15^th minute of play. Freshman Maisie Whitsett took a cross from Nadege L'Esperance and landed it into the upper left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. The Cardinal defense held the Boilermakers at bay the rest of the half for the lead at the break.

The Cardinals finished the first half with a 5-3 shot advantage and held a 3-1 lead in corner kicks. Gabby Kouzelos was not tested in the first half while Purdue's Marisa Bova finished with one save.

Purdue started the second half with offensive pressure, trying for the equalizer. Purdue had early shots that could not get past the Cards' backline but in the 65^th minute they capitalized off a corner kick. Kylie Hase headed the corner kick in the net past Kouzelos for the equalizer.

Following the goal, the Cardinals took possession and applied offensive pressure of their own. Gabrielle Vincent had a shot blocked then Whitsett's shot went just wide in the 68^th minute. L'Esperance had a solid chance but Bova made the save in the 69^th minute.

Purdue's Ena Sabanagic blasted a shot from the 18-yard line in the 74^th minute for a 2-1 lead. Louisville immediately pressed forward, Taylor Kerwin had two shots saved by Bova 30 seconds later. Emina Ekic had a shot saved in the 77^th minute. Forty seconds later Kerwin's shot was stopped.

Despite the pressure, Louisville was unable to connect for the equalizer, falling for the first time this season.

The Cards finished the match with a 13-7 shot advantage and edged the Boilermakers 5-3 in corner kicks. Ekic led the Cardinals with four shots.

Louisville will be back in action on Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. as they host Eastern Kentucky to wrap up non-conference play at Lynn Stadium.