By Jordan Shim–
The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team defeated Louisville 3-1 on Friday night. Kentucky’s win granted them first of the season, improving to 1-2-1, while Louisville loses their first, dropping to 3-1-1.
Louisville started the game strong, opening the scoring in the 8th minute. Jill Vetere’s through ball found Sarah Feola in space behind the Kentucky back line and Feola slotted it past goalkeeper Evangeline Soucie for her second goal of the season.
Kentucky upped the pressure on the Cards’ defense immediately after conceding. They found success in their high press and punished the Cards for their mistakes. Failure to properly clear the ball allowed Tanya Samarzich to equalize in the 32nd minute with a blast from outside the box into the top-right corner of the net.
Kentucky looked like the better team heading into the halftime, and they carried their momentum into the second half.
The high press worked again for the Wildcats forcing a corner kick in the 51st minute. The corner was played short out to Kelly Novak, and her cross found the head of Kaitlin Miller giving the visitors the 2-1 lead.
Coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes gambled with a formation change, switching to a 3-5-2 to send numbers forward, but Kentucky counter-attacked in the 75th minute. Wildcats outnumbered Cardinal defenders on the break, and Zoe Swift made it 3-1 with a calm finish past Bucklin. Ferguson-Dayes addressed the goal after the game.
“The third goal I’m not worried about,” Ferguson-Dayes said. “That’s a goal we give up with the system that we’re playing. We got caught in transition and Zoe scored a great goal, but the formation opens you up to that.”
Louisville outshot Kentucky, 18-7, however, Kentucky was more efficient in front of goal. Gabrielle Vincent and Niamh Nelson led the Cards with three shots each.
Coach Ferguson-Dayes felt her team did not do enough up front to win the game, and sees room for improvement.
“Soucie is a good goalkeeper, don’t misunderstand that, but we shot right at her. We didn’t make it as difficult as we could have for her,” Ferguson-Dayes said. “I think the stats will show you that we were aggressive and had the majority of the possession, but the next challenge for this group is to know how to win these games.”
Losing to their biggest rivals isn’t the best feeling, but coach Ferguson-Dayes is not going to sulk on the loss.
“Everybody has to turn around and play again, so we don’t feel sorry for ourselves,” Ferguson-Dayes said. “We’ll regroup and get after it tomorrow in training. We know we have a big test against Harvard.”
The Cards will have to refocus quickly if they want to win their next game. They host Harvard for the first time ever this Sunday. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m.
Photo by Wade Morgen / The Louisville Cardinal
