LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Freshman Christine Exeter scored a pair of goals as the No. 16 Louisville women’s soccer team remained unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Cincinnati in the BIG EAST Conference opener for both teams on Thursday night at Cardinal Park.

With the win, the Cardinals improved to 7-0-0 overall to continue the best start in school history, while the Bearcats dropped to 5-2-1 with the loss.

“Honestly, I’m not too concerned about the winning streak and I’m more concerned that it was the first BIG EAST game and it was three points against a difficult Cincinnati team.,” said Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes. “It’s a great way for us to open BIG EAST Conference play. It was a battle and I don’t think it was very attractive soccer, but I think there are some games in the BIG EAST that go like that. They test your character and your will to compete. This game definitely did that and we came out with the win.”

Exeter (Pickering, Ont./Pickering HS) led the way for Louisville with her second two-goal performance of the season. After nearly a full half of scoreless action, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute when Exeter found the back of the net from inside the six-yard box. The goal came after Cincinnati goalkeeper Rachel Barnette’s attempt to punch out a Louisville corner kick stayed in play near the front of the goal.

The Cardinals maintained that 1-0 advantage until the 82nd minute of play when Exeter scored on a header from 10 yards out following a beautiful cross from the right sideline from freshman Angelika Uremovich (Oakville, Ont./St. Ignatius of Loyola) for a 2-0 lead. The assist was the second of the season for Uremovich, while the goal was the second game-winner of the season for Exeter and her sixth goal overall.
 
Moments later, the Bearcats broke through for their only goal of the night as Kendall Loggins scored into the lower left corner of the net from nine yards out after working through the Cardinals’ defense in the 83rd minute. The goal was just the third of the season allowed by Louisville and sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Vancil (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North HS).

Any chances of a Cincinnati comeback were dashed when junior Jennifer Jones (Louisville, Ky./Assumption HS) scored on a penalty kick in the 88th minute for the final 3-1 margin. The second goal of the season and the second successful PK of the season for Jones was setup after Louisville senior Caitlin Rehder (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West HS) was taken down by a UC defender along the left side of the 18-yard box on a charge to the net.

Overall, Louisville finished with a 12-11 edge in shots, including 10-7 margin in shots-on-goal. The Cardinals also had a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks. Vancil finished with six saves for Louisville, while Barnette ended the night with seven stops.

Up next, Louisville will return to the road for a non-conference showdown at No. 21 Illinois on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET in Champaign, Ill.