Jared Looks at Soccer Schedule -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Jared Breaks Down and Predicts Women's Soccer Schedule

As we inch closer to the start of the 2025-2026 Louisville sports season, final rosters and schedules have fallen into place, allowing us to take a closer look at each team and take a stab at how we think they will do this season.

The first women's team to start their season this fall is women's soccer. While the 'Kickin Cards' have not had the success we had hoped over the last few years, a new season is always on the horizon.

This season opens up with road trips to Auburn and Vanderbilt, both teams who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. The Commodores upset 1-seed Florida State to get to the Sweet Sixteen. It would be a tall task to earn a round win in there, but I see the Cards dropping both of those matches.

Louisville then head to Lynn Stadium for a six-game homestand. The first trio of matches come against Detroit Mercy, Wright State, and USC Upstate. The Spartans were the only team of that grouping to make it to the NCAA Tournament last year, where they got demolished by North Carolina in the opening round. All three matches should be wins for the Cards.

The back half of the homestand features Coastal Carolina, Kent State, and Dayton. The Flyers are the only team of that grouping to have a spectacular season last year, but Dayton was upset in the A10 Championship to miss out on the NCAA Tournament. Dayton also took down Louisville 1-0 last season. Louisville should be able to beat the first two of this grouping but I think the play Dayton to a draw, bringing their record to 5-2-1.

From here on out, Louisville moves to ACC play, something that has doomed the Cards in the past. They start by heading to Tallahassee to defeat Florida State. The Seminoles are a top tier team every season and should be able to defend their home turf with easy.

Louisville gets a three-game homestand after that against Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Miami. The Cards and Miami did not face off last year. Louisville drew with Clemson and was blown out against Virginia Tech. The Hokies went on a bit of a dark horse run in the tournament, making it to the Elite Eight. Virginia Tech should win again this year, but I see the Cards playing to an even draw against their other two opponents in this stretch. Louisville's record moves to 5-4-3.

A road trip to Notre Dame, Wake Forest, and Boston College follows. The Cards tied Notre Dame and Boston College last year, but did not face Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons were the runner-up in the NCAA Tournament. While Wake Forest should get a win in Winston-Salem, I think the Cards pull off a road win and a draw against the other two in this grouping, moving their record to 6-5-4.

The final stretch of the season includes Virginia, NC State, and SMU. The Cavaliers won their opening match of the tournament last year while the other two did not make it. Virginia will come into Lynn and earn a late-season victory to help their conference record, dropping the Cards down to .500 overall. I think the Cards split the other final two matches, ending their season 7-7-4, missing out on both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments.

Louisville returns a strong and veteran corps from last season so we could see a plus-.500 season, but Louisville's history in the ACC provides some doubt that they will be able to compete with many of the big dogs in the conference. Only time will tell.

(All photos today by Jared)

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!

Jared