By Billy Garland

As the weather turns cold, fall semester sports begin to prepare for the Big East Conference Tournament. U of L men’s soccer is no exception and many university students have lent their support to the team as the season draws to a close.
“They look really awesome out there,” Ashley Crabtree, junior political science major, said. “The team really seems to be playing together.”
The Cardinal team goes into the tournament with a top twenty ranking, hoping to carry the momentum of a season record which boasts a total of 10 wins with only 6 losses. Currently the B.E. ranking lists Louisville in the top five with a conference record of 5-5-1.
The season began with the Cards ranked nationally due to their tremendous 2007 season in which they logged 10 wins for the first time since 2003. A sense of pride and confidence could be felt early on.
“We made significant gains this spring and have developed some momentum,” Ken Lolla, men’s soccer head coach, said in a pre season interview. “We were pleased with the results and were more encouraged with the overall changes that we made to improve as a team. We anticipate making more gains this summer and creating more momentum leading into a successful fall.”
A 16 year coaching veteran, Lolla led the team to the tournament in only his first year at U of L. This second season has been much of the same as the team will return to the conference in fine form yet again this year. Players and fans alike are quick to give Lolla credit for the team’s success.
Senior Ryan McDonald praised the qualifications of his coach early in the year saying that what impressed him most about Lolla was. “His knowledge of the game and his leadership.”
The team got off to a quick start as they won four of their first five conference games, including an upset against the current conference leader, St. Johns. The season took a turn for the worse however, as three consecutive conference games were lost to South Florida, Villanova and Rutgers.
The Cards looked to rebound strongly, as the team knocked off Big East rival DePaul, but fell short losing to Syracuse in the last game of the season.
The tournament will take place Nov. 5-11. The Cards hope to exceed the tournament success of last season in which they were eliminated in the second round.
Students have high hopes for the Cards in the tournament.
“We’re going to do great in the tournament,” Lauren Watkins, junior exercise major, said. “I think we’ll win.”