Battle of the Bluegrass Ends in a Draw, 2-2

Tuesday, September 23

LOUISVILLE, KY

7:00 PM

University of Louisville

5-2-1, 1-2-0

University of Kentucky

4-0-3, 1-0-0

Kentucky

Louisville

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

September 23, 2025 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Gracie White

LOUISVILLE, Ky- The University of Louisville men's soccer team earned a draw against in state rival, No. 18 University of Kentucky in the annual Battle of the Bluegrass on Tuesday with a score of 2-2. This marks the first draw between the teams since 2017.

The match was scoreless after the first 45 minutes. The Cardinals (5-2-1, 1-2-0 ACC) recorded eight shots in the first half, with their best opportunity coming in the 31^st minute. Junior Bilal Camara came close to scoring first with a header that deflected off the post.

The Wildcats (4-0-3, 1-0-0 SBC) had four shots, their most likely chance was a shot by Josh Gordon in the 27^th minute but was saved by Louisville goalkeeper, redshirt-junior Alex Svetanoff.
Svetanoff would record two saves in the first half. Louisville's back line would stand tall and have a great defensive stop, when sophomore Olayinka Ogunleye stifled a Kentucky attack in the ninth minute.

Within two minutes of the second half, Louisville scored the first goal of the game. The goal was made by freshman Nicholas Parham, assisted by Camara. The Cards had another close shot in the 57^th minute, but freshman Quinton Wilson put a little too much finesse on the ball, pulling it out right.

In the 64^th minute Kentucky tied the game with a goal from Alex Ruiz, assisted by Isaiah Chisolm. Four minutes later, the Wildcats were able to go up 2-1 with a goal from Chisolm, with a double assist from Agustin Lopez and Bains Smith.

Things got chippy in the 76^th minute when there was a scrum in Kentucky's goal box, resulting in a yellow card on Ogunleye. Three minutes later in the 79^th minute UK's Josh Gordon was also tagged with a yellow card.

Ryan Quintos played hero for the Cards, when in the 89^th minute, he headed the ball off a corner kick from sophomore Leon Kondic to even the score at 2-2, where it remained to end the match.

UofL ended the game with 15 shots and UK finished with eight shots. Louisville goalkeeper, Svetanoff finished the match with two saves.

Louisville will be back on the pitch in Durham, N.C. to face off against No. 16 Duke on Friday, September 26. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. on ACCNX.