Box Score BOX SCORE
RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team fell to in-state foe Louisville, 5-0, on Friday afternoon in the Colonels’ 2011 season opener at EKU Soccer Field.
EKU (0-1) was outshot, 15-1, in the first half, but played more composed in the second half and attacked the Louisville defense, firing four shots, two of which were on goal.
“I told the team, you don’t put a team like this on your schedule if you’re worried about the stats and you’re worried about the score,” head coach
Lindsay Basalyga said. “You put a team like this on your schedule to see where you’re at. And that’s what it’s all about: let’s expose ourselves early, and now we have great film to work from.”
Freshman
Devon Saini led EKU with two shots, while freshman Stephany Ellison and sophomore Maggie Whitfield attempted the Colonels’ only two shots on goal.
Christine Exeter paced the Louisville (1-0) offense with four shots on goal and one goal, while Angelika Uremovich assisted on a goal to Kim Sharo in the first half and then notched a goal of her own, a 20-yard score in the 78th minute that made the score 5-0.
“This score was not a reflection of how we played tonight,” Basalyga said. “We had some chances, got some girls behind their defense and saw things that we’ve been training for against a very good Louisville team.”
EKU played all 24 players on its roster in the defeat, as junior
Deja Tennon and sophomore #Emily D’Italia# played all 90 minutes on the Colonel backline.
“We went 24 deep because I thought it was the right time for everyone to get some experience against, again, a very good Louisville team.”
EKU, which lost at Louisville in its 2010 season opener, will now go on the road, travelling up I-75 to play at Kentucky on Tuesday, August 23, at 7:00 p.m. The Colonels return home on Sunday, August 28, when they host Miami (Ohio) at EKU Soccer Field at 1:00 p.m.
“Moving forward, they exposed us, but the confidence our players gained playing a team like this, despite the score, is invaluable,” Basalyga said.
