Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Top 10 Teams Tangle as Cardinals Travel to Syracuse
September 07, 2023 | Men's Soccer
Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Friday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It will be a top-10 showdown on Friday night for the University of Louisville men's soccer team as the seventh-ranked Cardinals travel to No. 4 Syracuse. Kickoff from Syracuse is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on ACC Network.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
Louisville made it four straight victories to start the 2023 season with a 4-2 win over in-state rival Kentucky on Tuesday. Gage Guerra notched a pair of goals, giving him a tally in three consecutive matches, while Konstantinos Georgallides and Parker Forbes each found the net as well.
The Cardinals' offensive attack was on display on Tuesday night against Kentucky. Louisville scored four goals, its most since tallying five against Eastern Illinois on Oct. 12, 2021. The 26 shots on Tuesday were the most since taking 29 on Sept. 28, 2021 versus Western Illinois.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville holds an 11-3-5 all-time mark in 19 previous meetings with Syracuse. The Cards are 5-1-3 in Syracuse, including a thrilling 5-4 win in double overtime in their last visit in 2021.
CARDINALS MATCH BEST START IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Louisville is off to a 4-0-0 start with wins over Saint Louis, Bellarmine, UNC Greensboro and Kentucky – three of which were ranked inside the top 20 in the preseason poll.
This marks the first time the Cardinals have won each of their first four matches since 1998. A win on Friday would secure the best start in the 45-year history of the Louisville men's soccer program.
Louisville is one of eight teams nationally and the only team in the ACC with nothing but wins on its ledger.
GUERRA LEADING LOUISVILLE OFFENSIVE CHARGE
The reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year at Army, Gage Guerra has been dynamic in his first run in a Louisville uniform.
The junior forward scored the opening goal in wins over Bellarmine and UNC Greensboro, earning him ACC Offensive Player of the Week and College Soccer News Team of the Week honors. He followed that up with a brace against Kentucky.
Guerra ranks sixth nationally with four goals on the young season and is the first Louisville player with four goals through the first four matches since Simon Bird did the same in 2003.
GEORGALLIDES MAKING IMPACT SCORING AND HELPING
While Gage Guerra has collected headlines for his goal-scoring prowess, sophomore Konstantinos Georgallides has provided the Cardinals with a well-rounded offensive output.
The forward from Cyprus has two goals and two assists through four matches, notching at least one point in each contest.
Georgallides is the first Louisville player since at least 2001 to record a point in the first four matches of the season.
SVETANOFF, CARDS OPEN SEASON WITH 331 SCORELESS MINUTES
Redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Alex Svetanoff and the Louisville defense made a statement to start the season, turning in clean sheets through the first three matches.
The scoreless run finally came to an end in the second half against Kentucky, but not before the Cardinals had registered 331 minutes without conceding.
Louisville posted three straight shutouts to open the season for the first time since 2009 when they defeated Bowling Green (3-0), IUPUI (2-0) and SIU-Edwardsville (2-0) in succession.
LOUISVILLE CONTINUES CLIMB INTO TOP 10
Louisville opened the 2023 season just on the outside of the United Soccer Coaches preseason rankings as one of 12 teams receiving votes outside of the top 25.
The Cardinals needed just one week to return to the top 25, coming in at No. 13 in the rankings following a win over No. 16 Tulsa in the season opener. Louisville then soared into the top 10 at No. 7 after a 3-0-0 start.
The No. 7 ranking is Louisville's best since Nov. 13, 2018 when the Cardinals were ranked fifth.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE MEN'S SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleMSOC.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
Louisville made it four straight victories to start the 2023 season with a 4-2 win over in-state rival Kentucky on Tuesday. Gage Guerra notched a pair of goals, giving him a tally in three consecutive matches, while Konstantinos Georgallides and Parker Forbes each found the net as well.
The Cardinals' offensive attack was on display on Tuesday night against Kentucky. Louisville scored four goals, its most since tallying five against Eastern Illinois on Oct. 12, 2021. The 26 shots on Tuesday were the most since taking 29 on Sept. 28, 2021 versus Western Illinois.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisville holds an 11-3-5 all-time mark in 19 previous meetings with Syracuse. The Cards are 5-1-3 in Syracuse, including a thrilling 5-4 win in double overtime in their last visit in 2021.
CARDINALS MATCH BEST START IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Louisville is off to a 4-0-0 start with wins over Saint Louis, Bellarmine, UNC Greensboro and Kentucky – three of which were ranked inside the top 20 in the preseason poll.
This marks the first time the Cardinals have won each of their first four matches since 1998. A win on Friday would secure the best start in the 45-year history of the Louisville men's soccer program.
Louisville is one of eight teams nationally and the only team in the ACC with nothing but wins on its ledger.
GUERRA LEADING LOUISVILLE OFFENSIVE CHARGE
The reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year at Army, Gage Guerra has been dynamic in his first run in a Louisville uniform.
The junior forward scored the opening goal in wins over Bellarmine and UNC Greensboro, earning him ACC Offensive Player of the Week and College Soccer News Team of the Week honors. He followed that up with a brace against Kentucky.
Guerra ranks sixth nationally with four goals on the young season and is the first Louisville player with four goals through the first four matches since Simon Bird did the same in 2003.
GEORGALLIDES MAKING IMPACT SCORING AND HELPING
While Gage Guerra has collected headlines for his goal-scoring prowess, sophomore Konstantinos Georgallides has provided the Cardinals with a well-rounded offensive output.
The forward from Cyprus has two goals and two assists through four matches, notching at least one point in each contest.
Georgallides is the first Louisville player since at least 2001 to record a point in the first four matches of the season.
SVETANOFF, CARDS OPEN SEASON WITH 331 SCORELESS MINUTES
Redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Alex Svetanoff and the Louisville defense made a statement to start the season, turning in clean sheets through the first three matches.
The scoreless run finally came to an end in the second half against Kentucky, but not before the Cardinals had registered 331 minutes without conceding.
Louisville posted three straight shutouts to open the season for the first time since 2009 when they defeated Bowling Green (3-0), IUPUI (2-0) and SIU-Edwardsville (2-0) in succession.
LOUISVILLE CONTINUES CLIMB INTO TOP 10
Louisville opened the 2023 season just on the outside of the United Soccer Coaches preseason rankings as one of 12 teams receiving votes outside of the top 25.
The Cardinals needed just one week to return to the top 25, coming in at No. 13 in the rankings following a win over No. 16 Tulsa in the season opener. Louisville then soared into the top 10 at No. 7 after a 3-0-0 start.
The No. 7 ranking is Louisville's best since Nov. 13, 2018 when the Cardinals were ranked fifth.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE MEN'S SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleMSOC.
Players Mentioned
MSOC: Virginia Postgame Interview
Sunday, September 14
MSOC: Stanford Postgame Interviews
Friday, September 05
MSOC: IU Indy Postgame Interviews (8/29/25)
Saturday, August 30
MSOC: IU Indy Highlights (8/29/25)
Saturday, August 30