The No. 5/9 Louisville men’s soccer team defeated Cincinnati 3-1 Wednesday evening in their home finale at Cardinal Park.  The Cardinals tied the school record for wins, improving to 12-2-2 overall and 7-2-1.
The Bearcats fall to 8-9-0 on the year and 3-7-0 in league play.

“I thought we were not our sharpest tonight but still found a way to win,” said head coach Ken Lolla.  “But I thought our guys did a good job of battling back and we played a lot better in the second half.”

The Cardinals struck early in the first half.  Freshman Paolo DelPiccolo took a corner kick and served it into the box.  There was a scramble for the ball when junior Mark Knight crossed the ball to the middle of the box and Simeon Steward scored his first goal of the season iin the 13th minute.

A minute later the Cardinals were awarded a free kick about 30 yards
out.  Kenney Walker served the ball into the box when Phil Edginton got
control of the ball and served it into the right post.  Freshman Buck
Tufty found the back of the net to put the Cardinals up 2-0 in the 14th
minute.

In the 28th minute the Bearcats’ Kit North collected a throw in and
served the ball to Branden Stelmak inside the box, slipping the ball
past Cardinal keeper Andre Boudreaux.  Louisville finished the first
half with a 6-3 shot advantage and a 5-0 corner kick advantage.  Bearcat
keeper Matt Williams finished the first period with one save.

The Cardinals came out sharper in the second half and kept possession
for most of the period.  In the 66th minute Walker served a free kick
into the box while Matt Beverin headed the ball in for the score.  The
Bearcats pressured the in the final minutes of the second period but the
Cardinal defense held them to just one shot in the second period.

Louisville finished the game with a 12-4 shot advantage and a 3-10
corner kick advantage.  Williams finished with two saves.

The Cardinals will wrap up the regular season at Villanova on Saturday,
Oct. 31 at 1:00 p.m.