Hello Cardinal Soccer Fans!

It was only 3 weeks ago when we began preseason. The team that arrived for camp on August 8th was deeper than ever and hungrier than ever. There was, and is, the sense that this group truly is on a mission this year. Sitting 3-0-1, four games in, only reconfirms that feeling...

After upsetting two perennial Top 25 teams in pre-season, West Virginia & Nebraska, we opened up at home against Ohio University. It was a typical first game of the season. There was a lot of energy, a lot of nerves, and not quite as much composure as we would have liked. Overtime games take years off coaches lives but fortunately for me, it only took us 55 seconds of OT to win the game off of a great Lindsay Boling finish. Less than 48 hours later, we were off to Miami (OH) where we put together a spectacular second half, scoring three goals and leaving with a shutout victory.

This past weekend took us to Lexington, KY for UK's annual tournament. Friday night's opponent was Wright State University. Their game plan was clearly to sit in and try to defend for 90 minutes. They did a nice job of this, and while we had the majority of the play, we just couldn't capitalize on our chances. With the shots 19-4 and corners 8-1 in our favor, we expected a better outcome than 0-0.

Sunday's opponent was 6 time NCAA Tournament participant, the University of Kentucky Wildcats. It had been 20 years since the Cards defeated the Wildcats. We played wonderful soccer for 90 minutes and controlled much of the game. At the end of regulation, both teams had managed 1 goal a piece and we were heading for our third OT game in the past 12 days! There isn't much that can top the adrenaline rush of winning a match with a golden goal. Five minutes into the 2nd sudden death OT, Jamie Craft beat the UK keeper to the lower right corner. The team rushed the field, celebrating a much deserved victory over a very good Kentucky team...Next up Xavier University...

Go Cards!

Coach Ferguson