Lady Leopards Clinch First-Ever AAC Title on Seitz’s Last-Second Stunner at Fitch 4-3 – Girls Soccer
Louisville 4, Austintown Fitch 3
<<< Vs. Howland | Girls Soccer Schedule | Next Vs. Canfield >>>
The Louisville Leopards Girls Varsity Soccer Team appeared headed for heartbreak after surrendering a two-goal lead in the final nine minutes, but sophomore Ava Seitz delivered one of the most dramatic goals in program history to lift the Lady Leopards past the host Austintown Fitch Falcons 4-3 Wednesday night at Greenwood Chevrolet Falcon Stadium.
Seitz launched a 28-yard game-winner into the top-right corner with just two seconds remaining, and Louisville’s celebration grew even larger when it learned that Howland won at Canfield 5-0 to make the Lady Leopards outright All-American Conference champions.
Louisville improved to 12-2 overall, extended its winning streak to seven games, and remained perfect at 8-0 in AAC play.
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Seitz Delivers Championship-Winning Stunner With 2 Seconds Left
With the score tied 3-3 and only 10 seconds remaining, Fitch attempted to clear the ball out of danger and preserve the draw.
Seitz blocked the clearance back with the right side of her body, gathered the ball to her left, and worked it toward Reese Riley in the middle of several Falcon defenders with about five seconds to play.
Fitch snuffed out Riley’s opportunity with a textbook slide tackle, but the loose ball rolled directly back toward Seitz.
With virtually no time remaining, Seitz launched a desperation shot from approximately 28 yards away.
The ball seemed to hang in the air as players on both sides watched its flight toward goal. It continued to carry before dropping into the upper-right side of the net with two seconds left on the clock.
For a brief moment, both teams seemed stunned by what had just happened. Fitch players fell to the turf in disbelief, while Seitz and several Louisville teammates overwhelmed by the moment initially grabbed the back of their heads as the reality of the moment set in.
Then came the celebration.
Seitz’s fourth goal of the season had given Louisville a 4-3 victory — and, as events elsewhere in the AAC unfolded, an outright conference championship for the first time since 2013.
Lint Answers Early Fitch Goal
The Falcons struck first just 2:46 into the contest when Maliyah Bournes gave Fitch a 1-0 advantage.
Louisville answered midway through the opening half.
Riley set up Kasey Lint, who found the back of the net with 19:34 remaining to pull the Lady Leopards even at 1-1.
The goal was Lint’s ninth of the season, and the 1-1 score held into halftime.
Riley and Folk Build 3-1 Louisville Lead
Louisville took control during the second half behind Riley and Haile Folk.
Riley converted a penalty kick with 20:31 remaining to give the Lady Leopards their first lead of the night at 2-1. The goal was Riley’s team-leading 17th of the season.
She then turned distributor less than eight minutes later.
Riley connected with Folk, who finished with 12:28 remaining to stretch Louisville’s advantage to 3-1. Folk’s goal was her third of the season, while Riley picked up her second assist of the night and raised her season total to six.
At that point, the Lady Leopards appeared to be cruising toward another AAC victory.
Fitch had other plans.
Falcons Erase Two-Goal Deficit in Final Nine Minutes
Austintown Fitch refused to go quietly.
Riley Rutushin cut Louisville’s advantage to 3-2 with 8:49 remaining, giving the Falcons life down the stretch.
Then, with only 1:40 left, Bournes struck for her second goal of the night to complete the comeback and suddenly tie the contest at 3-3.
What had appeared to be a comfortable Louisville victory just minutes earlier had completely disappeared.
The tie lasted only 98 seconds.
Seitz’s improbable strike with two seconds remaining gave Louisville the lead one final time — and this time, Fitch had no opportunity to answer.
Leopards Survive Seven-Goal Thriller
Louisville finished with a 7-5 advantage in shots, while both teams earned two corner kicks. Goalkeeper Tristyn Edgein recorded two saves.
The three goals allowed is the most by the Lady Leopards in AAC play this season, but they survived it with their third 4+ goal output in conference play this year.
Lady Leopards Clinch First AAC Championship
Seitz’s goal ultimately meant much more than another dramatic road victory.
Louisville’s win moved the Lady Leopards to a perfect 8-0 in conference play. Howland simultaneously defeated Canfield 5-0, leaving both of Louisville’s closest pursuers with two AAC losses. The Tigers and Cardinals tied 2-2 at Howland back on September 21. Thus, with Howland at 6-2-1 and Canfield at 5-2-1 in conference play, neither can achieve a better record than 7-2-1 and thus cannot catch 8-0 Louisville who at worse could finish 8-2.
That combination officially secured the outright AAC championship for Louisville, even with conference games against Canfield and Warren G. Harding still remaining.
The title is Louisville Girls Soccer’s first All-American Conference championship after joining the league this fall and the fourth conference championship in program history.
The Lady Leopards previously won outright Northeastern Buckeye Conference championships in 2012 and 2013 before sharing the 2016 NBC title with West Branch.
Wednesday’s championship is Louisville’s first conference crown in a decade and its first outright league title since 2013.
Louisville Evens All-Time Series With Fitch
The victory also continued a dramatic turnaround in Louisville’s history against Austintown Fitch.
The Falcons won the first four meetings between the programs from 2011 through 2018. Louisville has now answered by winning four straight, evening the all-time series at 4-4.
The Lady Leopards swept this season’s AAC meetings, shutting out Fitch 3-0 at Louisville on September 21 before escaping with Wednesday’s 4-3 thriller at Falcon Stadium.
<<< Previous 2026 | Austintown Fitch All-Time Series
UP NEXT: The Louisville Leopards Girls Soccer Team will next host the Canfield Cardinals on Saturday, October 10. Game time is set for 7:00 PM from Louisville Leopards Stadium.
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Louisville at Austintown Fitch Girls Varsity Soccer Box Score
LEOPARDS 4, FALCONS 3
Team 1-2–TOTAL
Louisville 1-3–04
Austintown Fitch 1-2–03
1st Half
AUSTINTOWN FITCH – Maliyah Bournes | LHS 0, AFHS 1, 37:14
LOUISVILLE – Kasey Lint (Reese Riley) | LHS 1, AFHS 1, 19:34
2nd Half
LOUISVILLE – Reese Riley (PK) | LHS 2, AFHS 1, 20:31
LOUISVILLE – Haile Folk (Reese Riley) | LHS 3, AFHS 1, 12:28
AUSTINTOWN FITCH – Riley Rutushin | LHS 3, AFHS 2, 8:49
AUSTINTOWN FITCH – Maliyah Bournes | LHS 3, AFHS 3, 1:40
LOUISVILLE – Ava Seitz (Unassisted) | LHS 4, AFHS 3, 0:02
Records: Louisville 12-2, 8-0; Austintown Fitch 4-9-1, 3-5
