University of Louisville men’s soccer spring schedule revealed

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Via University of Louisville) – The University of Louisville men’s soccer team announced its 2019 spring schedule, highlighted by the 502 Derby against Louisville City FC on March 2 at 5 p.m., ET at Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium.

The spring friendly against the two-time and reigning United Soccer League champions from LouCity will be the first of three home exhibition matches for the Cardinals under the direction of first-year head coach John Michael Hayden. UofL will also host Lipscomb on March 30 at 6 p.m., and before concluding the spring at home against Indiana on April 19 at 7:30 p.m. Louisville will also play a spring exhibition match on the road at Lindsey Wilson on April 5 at 7 p.m.

“We’re very excited about the upcoming spring competitions,” Hayden said. “Each opponent will present different challenges that will allow our team to grow from both individual and collective perspectives.”

Tickets for the 502 Derby at Lynn Stadium are $10 for reserved chairback seats and $5 for general admission/berm seating and will be on sale to the public starting Monday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m., ET. Tickets can be purchased online at GoCards.com, by calling 502-GO-CARDS or by visiting the Louisville Cardinals Ticket Office, located near Gate 2 at Cardinal Stadium (2800 South Floyd Street) on weekdays from 9 a.m., until 5 p.m., ET.

The Cardinals ended their 2018 season with an 11-5-3 record overall and ranked 16th in the final United Soccer Coaches poll after advancing to the NCAA Championship for the third straight season and the 11th time in the last 12 years. The 2018 season included the program’s first ACC Championship title after Louisville earned victories over Notre Dame, Wake Forest and North Carolina in a span of eight days. As the focus turns to the 2019 season, Hayden and his coaching staff will use this demanding spring slate to prepare the Cardinals for what they will encounter in the fall during the regular season.

“The spring allows us to evaluate ourselves while also honing in on the playing model we hope to see in the fall,” said Hayden. “The quality of our competition this spring will help prepare us as we plan for a demanding fall schedule.”

Louisville City FC comes to Lynn Stadium to complete the team’s first preseason under head coach John Hackworth. LouCity is coming off its second consecutive USL Cup Championship, becoming the first team in USL history to win back-to-back titles. City returns 17 of their 22 championship players this season, including Louisville men’s soccer alumnus Paolo DelPiccolo.

Lipscomb advanced to the third round of the 2018 NCAA Championship before ending its season with a 2-1 loss at Kentucky. The Bisons were 10-10-1 overall and 5-1-0 in the Atlantic Sun before earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship with a 2-0 win over Stetson in the ASUN title match.

Indiana registered a 20-3-1 record overall after falling 2-0 to Maryland in the semifinal round of the 2018 NCAA College Cup in Santa Barbara. The Hoosiers were 8-0-0 in the Big Ten before earning the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Championship with a 3-0 win over Michigan in the title match of the Big Ten Tournament.

Along with the three spring matches at Lynn Stadium, the Cardinals will also host SIU Edwardsville for a closed match (not open to the public) on Feb. 23. Fans can follow Louisville men’s soccer on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @UofLmenssoccer.