Louisville women's soccer advances to second round of NCAA tournament

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Survive and advance!

The No. 20 Louisville Cardinals women’s soccer team hosted rival Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.

It marks the Cardinals’ seventh NCAA-tournament appearance — all under head coach Karen Ferguson‑Dayes. The Wildcats entered Saturday with a 12-4-4 record after falling in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

The postseason edition of the “Battle of the Bluegrass” did not disappoint. The match was tied 1-1 after 110 minutes when neither team could break through in double overtime, forcing a shootout.

It took eight rounds of penalty kicks for Louisville to advance, 5-4. For the first time since 2019, the Cardinals move on to the second round. No. 6 seed Louisville will face No. 3 seed Kansas Jayhawks on