The University of Louisville women’s soccer team is gearing up to kick off the 2024 season with a season-opening match against cross-town rival Bellarmine on Thursday, August 15. The game will take place at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will be streamed on ACC Network Extra. As a special offering this year, all home matches for the Cardinals will have free admission.
Season Overview and Team Composition
Head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes, now entering her 25th season leading the Cardinals, will guide a squad that features a mix of returning players and fresh faces. The team returns 14 players from the 2023 roster, a group that achieved several significant milestones last season. Among these achievements was the program’s first-ever victory over Duke, where Louisville defeated the 25th-ranked Blue Devils in the season finale. Additionally, the Cardinals earned their first point against Virginia in a 1-1 draw with the 20th-ranked Cavaliers. Louisville also set a new program record last year with five draws.
Offensive and Defensive Outlook
The Cardinals will need to find new sources of offense this season, as they return only five goals and no assists from the previous year. Leading the returning scorers are Molly Cochran and Emersen Jennings, who each netted two goals in 2023. On the bright side, Louisville will see the return of two players from injury who could bolster the offense. Brooke Dardano, who has four career assists, and Amber Jackson, with eight goals and eight assists in her career, will be key contributors. Additionally, returning defender Karsyn Cherry has demonstrated an ability to score, having recorded three goals during her freshman season in 2022.
In goal, Erynn Floyd will anchor the defense once again. Floyd has started 32 of the last 34 games over the past two seasons and set a career-high with 62 saves last year.
Newcomers and Transfers
The Cardinals welcome 13 newcomers to the roster, including eight freshmen and five college transfers. The incoming transfers bring experience from various programs: Jolie St. Louis (UAB/Seattle), Gianna Angelillo (Miami), Ella Kane (Kentucky), Berkley Patterson (Texas Tech), and Kailey Kimball (Purdue). The freshman class represents five different states: Kentucky, Ohio (3x), Washington (2x), Maryland, and Georgia.
Season Opener Against Bellarmine
Thursday’s match against Bellarmine marks the first time since 1994 that the Cardinals and Knights will face off in a regular-season game. Louisville holds a 6-0-0 all-time record against Bellarmine. The Knights enter the season under the leadership of a new head coach, Callie McKinney, who is a familiar name for Louisville fans. McKinney, a former Cardinal midfielder, was appointed as Bellarmine’s head coach in March. During her playing career at Louisville, she appeared in 72 games, starting 67, and helped the team reach the NCAA tournament in her final two seasons. In her senior year, she scored the game-winning goal against Clemson, leading the Cardinals to a 13-5-2 overall record.
Upcoming Matches
After the season opener against Bellarmine, the Cardinals will remain at home for a three-game homestand. Next up, they will host UAB on Sunday, August 18, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium.
