Thursday, August 20
LOUISVILLE, KY
6:00 PM
University of Louisville
vs
IU Indy
Photo by: David Sutherland | Louisville Athletics
Men's Soccer Opens 2026 Campaign Thursday Against IU Indy
August 19, 2026 | Men's Soccer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville men's soccer team opens the 2026 season Thursday, Aug. 20, welcoming IU Indy to Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
The Cardinals enter the season with a significantly revamped roster, returning 13 players from last year's team while adding 14 newcomers, including six transfers and eight freshmen. The team is led by a three-player captaincy group of Ryan Quintos, Jack Lewis and Noah De Blasis.
Louisville enters the opener with plenty of preseason recognition. Four Cardinals were selected to the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Top 100, led by Andrés Escudero Martín at No. 62, Giacomo Zizza at No. 73, De Blasis at No. 78 and Quintos at No. 84. Escudero and Zizza were also named to the MAC Hermann Trophy positional watch lists, while Quintos earned a spot on the ACC Men's Soccer Preseason Watch List.
Escudero headlines a talented group of newcomers after a standout freshman campaign at Evansville. The sophomore forward scored 11 goals in 20 appearances with 15 starts, earning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MVC honors as well as United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team recognition. Zizza arrives from Lehigh after leading the Mountain Hawks with nine assists and adding four goals in 2025, earning First Team All-Patriot League and First Team All-Atlantic Region honors.
On the defensive end, De Blasis returns as one of Louisville's most experienced players after starting all 17 matches and playing every minute of the 2025 season. He finished tied for the team lead with three assists and added one goal while earning TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week recognition. Quintos also returns to anchor the back line after making 10 starts and playing 864 minutes before his season was cut short by injury.
Thursday's matchup marks the 11th meeting between Louisville and IU Indy, with the Cardinals holding an 8-2-0 advantage in the all-time series and a perfect 6-0-0 record at home. Louisville won the most recent meeting 4-0 on Aug. 29, 2025, with Quinton Wilson scoring twice. The Cardinals also held IU Indy without a shot on goal in the victory.
Following Thursday's opener, the Cardinals will travel to Lexington to play Kentucky on Monday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. followed by a three-match homestand, hosting Lipscomb on Aug. 27, Indiana on Aug. 31 and Wright State on Sept. 3.
The Cardinals enter the season with a significantly revamped roster, returning 13 players from last year's team while adding 14 newcomers, including six transfers and eight freshmen. The team is led by a three-player captaincy group of Ryan Quintos, Jack Lewis and Noah De Blasis.
Louisville enters the opener with plenty of preseason recognition. Four Cardinals were selected to the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Top 100, led by Andrés Escudero Martín at No. 62, Giacomo Zizza at No. 73, De Blasis at No. 78 and Quintos at No. 84. Escudero and Zizza were also named to the MAC Hermann Trophy positional watch lists, while Quintos earned a spot on the ACC Men's Soccer Preseason Watch List.
Escudero headlines a talented group of newcomers after a standout freshman campaign at Evansville. The sophomore forward scored 11 goals in 20 appearances with 15 starts, earning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MVC honors as well as United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team recognition. Zizza arrives from Lehigh after leading the Mountain Hawks with nine assists and adding four goals in 2025, earning First Team All-Patriot League and First Team All-Atlantic Region honors.
On the defensive end, De Blasis returns as one of Louisville's most experienced players after starting all 17 matches and playing every minute of the 2025 season. He finished tied for the team lead with three assists and added one goal while earning TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week recognition. Quintos also returns to anchor the back line after making 10 starts and playing 864 minutes before his season was cut short by injury.
Thursday's matchup marks the 11th meeting between Louisville and IU Indy, with the Cardinals holding an 8-2-0 advantage in the all-time series and a perfect 6-0-0 record at home. Louisville won the most recent meeting 4-0 on Aug. 29, 2025, with Quinton Wilson scoring twice. The Cardinals also held IU Indy without a shot on goal in the victory.
Following Thursday's opener, the Cardinals will travel to Lexington to play Kentucky on Monday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. followed by a three-match homestand, hosting Lipscomb on Aug. 27, Indiana on Aug. 31 and Wright State on Sept. 3.
Players Mentioned
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