University of Louisville
Lipscomb University
Louisville Hosts Lipscomb to Open Homestand
August 26, 2026 | Men's Soccer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville men's soccer team returns home Thursday night when the Cardinals host Lipscomb at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on ACCNX.
This marks the start of a three-game homestead featuring matches against No. 14 Indiana on Aug. 31 and Wright State on Sept. 3.
Louisville enters the matchup with a 2-0-0 record after opening the season with victories over IU Indy and Kentucky. The Cardinals earned a 2-1 win over IU Indy in their opener before rallying from a two-goal deficit to defeat Kentucky 3-2 on the road Monday night.
The Cardinals have been led by transfer Giacomo Zizza, who has made an immediate impact in his first two matches at Louisville. Zizza scored twice in the season opener against IU Indy before finding the back of the net twice again against Kentucky, including the game-winning goal in the 90th minute. He enters Thursday's match leading the ACC with four goals and two game-winning goals. Zizza has also registered nine shots, with eight on target.
Zizza's four goals account for four of Louisville's five goals through the first two matches. Sophomore transfer Andrés Escudero Martín has scored the other goal, converting a penalty kick against Kentucky. Louisville has generated 40 shots through two matches, averaging 20 shots per game, while earning 21 corner kicks.
The Cardinals' new-look roster has quickly come together under eighth-year head coach John Michael Hayden. Louisville returns 13 players from last season while welcoming 14 newcomers, including six transfers and eight freshmen. The Cardinals are led by captains Ryan Quintos, Jack Lewis and Noah De Blasis.
Goalkeeper Nathaniel Abraham has started both matches this season and owns a 2-0-0 record with four saves. The sophomore goalkeeper also brings international experience after earning a call-up to the Canada U-20 Men's National Team and helping Canada reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship.
Coaching Connections
Thursday's matchup with Lipscomb features a pair of Louisville coaches with strong ties to the Bisons. Head coach John Michael Hayden spent two seasons as an assistant at Lipscomb from 2013-14, helping the Bisons to a 21-13-3 record and the 2014 ASUN regular-season title.
Associate head coach Stephen Lunney also spent eight seasons at Lipscomb before joining the Cardinals in 2023. Lunney served six seasons as an assistant coach and two as a graduate assistant, helping the Bisons compile a 75-55-14 record and win four Atlantic Sun Conference championships. In 2022, Lipscomb posted a program-record 14-3-2 mark, captured both the regular-season and tournament titles, earned a No. 9 national seed in the NCAA Tournament and hosted an NCAA Tournament match for the first time in program history. Lunney and the Lipscomb staff were named the United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region Staff of the Year.
Series History
Thursday marks the fifth meeting between Louisville and Lipscomb, with the Cardinals holding a 2-1-1 advantage in the all-time series. Louisville is 2-1-0 against the Bisons at Lynn Stadium.
The teams last met on Oct. 21, 2025, playing to a 1-1 draw in Nashville. Lipscomb took a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute before Louisville answered five minutes later. The Cardinals finished with an 18-15 advantage in shots and a 6-3 edge in shots on goal.
Lipscomb enters Thursday's match with a 0-0-1 record. The Bisons are led by longtime head coach Charles Morrow, who is in his 22nd season at Lipscomb and owns a 163-174-49 record with the program.
Up Next
Following Thursday's match, Louisville will remain at Lynn Stadium for another home contest against No. 14 Indiana on Monday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
