The two conference foes, who currently play every other year, have had a history of close matches. In 2016, the Irish won in double overtime at Lynn Stadium. In 2014, Notre Dame claimed a 1-0 victory in South Bend. Back tracking to 2011, the Cards defeated Notre Dame twice- 1-0 in South Bend and 2-1 in the Big East Tournament semifinals.
The Cards had a few opportunities to score in the first half and should have had a one- or two-goal lead, but the shots sailed over the crossbar. If they were kicking field goals things would have been going great.
In the 60th minute, Mollie Rouse passed off to Allison Whitfield, who set Rivers from just outside the box. Whitfield's ball crossed the box to the far side where Rivers had a height advantage over the defender to head the ball in. The goal was the sixth of the season for the junior.
Whitsett added to the lead 18 minutes later. Emina Ekic passed off to her right after drawing twodefenders her way. Whitsett was there patiently waiting and had an angle, sending the ball in for her eighth goal of the season.
Goalkeeper Gabby Kouzelos had her hands full with a Notre Dame offense that was desperately trying to get onto the board Kouzelos had Sports Center worthy saves, fighting to preserve the shutout. She was credited with five saves on the night, but mixing her way into the defense a lot more than that. Niamh Nelson helped Kouzelos out on one in the first half. Kouzelous knocked the ball down on one of her saves but bounced toward a Notre Dame player. Nelson slid in to kick it away and earn a save for herself.
In the post-game interviews, we got a golf cart drive-by during the Rivers interview and a train offered its congratulations at the end of the Karen Ferguson Dayes clip.
Video Interview with Brooklynn Rivers
POST GAME KAREN FERGUSON DAYES AFTER NOTRE DAME
A Look into the Weekend
--Friday, Sept 21
Field Hockey visits Wake Forest. The Cards claimed a victory at Trager last year in shootout fashion and the Demon Deacons are looking for revenge. Wake Forest heads into the match 3-4 and unranked, but the ACC is too dominant of a conference to base things just off the record.
Volleyball visits NC State. The Wolfpack has a similar record to the Cards, but could prove to be trouble in Raleigh if Louisville doesn't pick up the pace. However, this is about where the Cards sat going into conference play last year so don't count them out.
Men's Soccer hosts Pittsburgh. On paper the Cards should win, but it depends if they play like they did versus Kentucky or if they play like they did versus Duke.
--Saturday, Sept 22
Softball hosts an inter-squad scrimmage in preparation for their upcoming fall schedule.
Football visits Virginia. This Cardinals team just looks bad and things could get ugly on the roadeven against a lesser ACC team.
Women's Golf goes into the second day of the Mason Rudolph Championship.
--Sunday, Sept 23
Women's Golf wraps up play in Tennessee with hopes of another high finish.
Field Hockey visits Appalachian State. They're 4-4 and barely breaking top 50 in the rpi. On paper this should be an easy victory for UofL. Never underestimate an opponent or you will regret it.
Volleyball visits North Carolina. The Tar Heels are struggling this year, but they've owned the series against Louisville lately. The Cards got the late season 3-2 thriller at home last year but had lost four straight since joining the ACC before that.
There's not much happening on Floyd Street this weekend other than Lynn Stadium's busy weekend of Thursday, Friday, and Sunday so your best bet to catch any of the Cardinal Couple crew is the Sunday match.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE:
Get your weekend off to a rousing start by checking out the clip below of Groucho Marx and crew singing the praises of Lydia the Tatooted Lady. Be warned, that song WILL stick in your head if you're not careful...the antics are hilarious as well. They don't write 'em like that anymore.
LYDIA THE TATTOOED LADY
Happy Friday and Go Cards!
- Jared -
Huge win for women's soccer last night and good job on the interviews post-game Paulie. Who was it that asked the question that seemed to ruffle Brooklynn a little bit about competition?
ReplyDeleteWho does Walz have coming in this weekend?
Curtis "Beating Notre Dame is always good" Franklin
That would be Mike Gilpatrick, a frequent guest on The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour. I think Mike regretted asking the question that particular way. He's young and improving. Check out his work over at River City Cards.
DeleteWalz has 6'4" Maori Davenport and "the Canadian dunk queen" 6'3" Laetica Amihere coming in. Both or either would be great "gets" for the 2019-20 class in addition to the ones Walz already has coming in.
Paulie
Walz knows Davenport from USA ball. I've watched some clips on Amihere. She's the real thing.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Cardinal Couple back to the basics on women's sports at UofL. Not sure why Jared keeps pushing football and men's soccer but I suppose there are UofL women's sports fans who like those activities.
Nick O.
Yes, you were right. That song is stuck in what's left of my brain now. Lydia, oh Lydia...oh have you seen Lydia?
ReplyDeleteThis Cardinal women's soccer team bends but doesn't break. Notre Dame was firing away on the Cards defense early in the second half last night from what I could see on the ACC Network Extra broadcast and the Cards, especially Gabby the Goalie was making some incredible stops.
Case seems to have a great understanding of soccer. I'd be interested to read is take on the win. Was he there?
-- The Real Joe Hill --
LOL. Lydia. That was also the ring-tone on one of the villian's cell phones (Todd) on the series "Breaking Bad" for you trivia buffs.He had a thing for Lydiaa, one of the other characters.
DeleteI got there late, because of Sportsmen's Supper Club, almost halfway through the first half but saw Case sitting in the stands with his fiancee. Before I could get out of the press box after the game, though, they were gone.
Case reads each day and I'd expect he'll chime in with some thoughts later today here in the comments. He'll probably discuss it a bit, too in his Saturday write-up here. He stays way busy at work and doesn't always get the chance to follow the site continuously.
Lydia, Lydia, oh have you seen Lydia?
Paulie
Welp. I had drafted up a long comment here and it was deleted when my computer restarted after downloading updates without asking. I'll make sure to get thoughts on last night's game into tomorrow's article. I've got quite a few!
ReplyDeleteDern technology...look forward to it.
DeletePaulie
Lydia. I had a friend who also had that as his ring-tone and it was for his wife, named Lydia. When they broke up, he changed it to "Highway To He!!"
ReplyDeleteWasn't WSOC picked to finish like eighth or ninth in the ACC? Most impressive start, I must say.
Go. Cards. Beat. Purdue.
Blue Lou
Very nice write up.
ReplyDeleteWe could have had that game but the Louisville goalkeeper really was excellent. That and the team stop in the first half. Congratulations to Louisville. You have a couple of really talented girls in Ekic and Whitsett. Best of luck the rest of the way. We got a first year coach and a new goalkeeper. We'll get better. #14 was a way too high early ranking for Notre Dame.
Irish Fighter
Thanks for stopping in Irish Dancer. Your team showed a lot of heart and fight. Good luck the rest of the way!
DeletePaulie