Alumni Snaps Spell 3-1, Claims 1st Win Since 2013 – Boys Soccer Alumni Game

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Alumni 3, Louisville 1

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The Louisville Leopards Boys Soccer Team fell to the Louisville Alumni 3-1 Friday Night at Louisville Leopards Stadium in the annual Leopards Boys Soccer Alumni Game. The victory was the Alumni’s first over LHS since 2013. 


Alumni Breakthrough with a Pair of 1st Half Goals

My Fit Life Personal Trainer Side AdAfter nearly 27 minutes of deadlock, the Alumni busted through first with a goal at the 18:04 mark of the first half. Cody Gotshall (class of 2014) took control in the box after multiple touches before centering a pass to Chris Walters (class of 2020). Walters one-timed a kick with his left foot through a pair of Leopard defenders into the left side of the net just past the outstretched arms of the Louisville goalkeeper to give the Alumni the early lead.

The Alumni extended their advantage a little over six minutes later. Riley Adams (class of 2021) drew a whistle just outside of the penalty box to earn a free kick. The Leopards all-time leading goal scorer made the most of it by blasting the free boot into the right side of the net to put the Alumni in front 2-0 with 12:00 to go in the opening half.


Swope Answers with Lone Leopards Goal

Lingenhoel Group - Arden and Lisa Lingenhoel - Cutler Real Estate AdLouisville wasted no time in answering back. Just 42 seconds later freshman Kadan Swope found the back of the net via a cross pass near the right sideline from sophomore Remington Klein. The goal chopped the Alumni’s lead in half 2-1 with 11:18 left in the first half.

Neither team would score the rest of the half and the Alumni would take a rare lead into the break.


Alumni Defense Holds True in Second Half

Samantha's Grill AdUsually the older Alumni players run out of steam in the second half and their current LHS counterparts take over with a flurry of second half scores. However, that typical Alumni Game script never came to fruition as the Alumni turned away every threat the opposition imposed on them. 

Goalkeeper Clayton McLaughlin (class of 2019) remained in the net for the entire game making stop after stop. His efforts along with outstanding play from Alumni defenders Austin Hallas (class of 2014), Tom Hallas (class of 2011), Logan Rich (class of 2019), and others kept the 2021 Leopards at bay.

Jenny Can Cleaning AdWhile McLaughlin was the clear MVP for the Alumni defense, Rich may have made the defensive  play of the game in the 54th minute. On a breakaway, Louisville was able to get a shot underneath the outstretched leg of McLaughlin. The ball drifted into the goal box and headed for the net, but Rich was able to deflect the potential game-tying shot away to preserve the Alumni’s one goal lead. 

Trickery may have been the biggest factor in helping the Alumni keep the Leopards off the board. At some point in the second half, as is an annual tradition, the entire Alumni bench emptied into the game. This was more subtle than most years with only 14 Alumni present and as a result 14-on-11 play went virtually unnoticed until the waning minutes of the game.


Adams Gives Alumni 3-1 Cushion

The Alumni hammered another nail in the coffin with an insurance goal in the 73rd minute. Bailey Adams intercepted an LHS pass in the backfield. He then passed ahead to Gotshall who sent it back to Adams in a well executed give and go play.

The ensuing shot attempt rang off the top left post, but Adams hustled to the ball that deflected to the right side of the box retrieving his own rebound. Louisvilleā€™s second place all-time leading goal scorer made the most of the extra opportunity by ripping the ball into the left side of the net to make it 3-1 Alumni with 17:16 left in the game.


Alumni Notches 2nd Ever Win Over LHS

Despite longer than standard 45 minute halves and less depth than usual, the Alumni made history with their first victory over LHS since the inaugural Alumni game in 2013. Louisville still holds a 5-2-1 record against the Alumni all-time.


Henkel Takes Honor as Oldest Participating Alum

This year’s alumni squad featured players as far back as the class of 2010 all the way up to seniors from this past season making up the class of 2021. Former Leopard player and head coach Brandon Henkel (class of 2010) took the honor of being the oldest Louisville alumni to participate in this year’s alumni contest. 

UP NEXT: The Louisville Leopards Boys Soccer Team will next host the Coventry Comets for a Scrimmage on Tuesday, August 3 at 7:00 PM.


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BOX SCORE

ALUMNI 3, LEOPARDS 1

Team 1-2–TOTAL

Alumni 2-1–03

Louisville 1-0–01

1st Half

ALUMNI – Chris Walters (Cody Gotshall) | LHS 0, ALUMNI 1, 18:04

ALUMNI – Riley Adams | LHS 0, ALUMNI 2, 12:00

LOUISVILLE- Kadan Swope (Remington Klein) | LHS 1, ALUMNI 2, 11:18

2nd Half

ALUMNI – Bailey Adams | LHS 1, ALUMNI 3, 17:16

Records: Louisville 0-1 in Preseason

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