Lady Leopards Win 1st Sectional Title Since 2013 – Girls Soccer
#10 Louisville 1, #19 Eastlake North 0
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The #10 seed Louisville Leopards earned a 1-0 shutout over the visiting #19 seed Eastlake North Rangers in the DI Northeast 2 Sectional Finals on a rainy Thursday evening at Louisville Leopards Stadium. With the victory, Louisville improves to 14-3-1 on the season and advances to play at #3 Green in the DI Northeast 2 District Semifinals on Monday, October 23 at 6:00 PM.
Straggat Media Broadcast | Game Recap | Scoring Summary
Louisville Vs. Eastlake North Game Broadcast
Game Broadcast by Straggat Media Network
Lab PK Puts Leopards In Front
Leopard junior Payton Allan was fouled on a hard slide tackle by an Eastlake North defender in the box during the 16th minute. Senior Natalie Lab took the penalty kick and buried it into the top of the net to put Louisville in front 1-0 with 24:20 to play in the opening half.
The goal was Lab’s ninth of the season.
GOAL, LADY LEOPARDS! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/qFXEg2dZTT
— Terrie Horn (@LepsAD) October 19, 2023
Mercier Last Second Save Preserves Shutout`
The two squads battled into the night and the score remained 1-0 throughout. The rain stopped about midway through the second half, but the chaos didn’t. Multiple yellow cards were issued, coaches and fans were ejected, and the head ref even attempted to throw every Louisville parent out of the game after an injury timeout with 10:21 to play.
Through it all, the Lady Leopards kept their poise and held the Rangers at bay. With a little over a minute to play, Eastlake North desperately tried to tie the game with a late goal. The Rangers took a shot on goal from 25 yards out, but junior goalkeeper Audrey Mercier made a diving save while falling on her back to keep them off the scoreboard.
Eastlake North came back even more desperate getting several touches in the box before attempting one last shot on goal with 9 seconds to play. Mercier dove to her right and secured the save as well as the Lady Leopards first sectional title in a decade.
The shutout is Mercier’s team record 11th of the season and Louisville’s 12th overall for the year.
Third Sectional Title in Team History
This is the Lady Leopards third Division I sectional championship in team history and first since defeating GlenOak for their last sectional crown in a 1-0 overtime thriller in 2013. Louisville also won a sectional title in 2012 via a 2-1 double overtime win at North Canton Hoover. Rachel Baughman scored a golden goal in both games to send the Lady Leopards to districts.
This is Louisville’s first tournament victory since blanking Lakeside 10-0 in a DI Northeast 1 sectional semifinal played at Louisville Leopards Stadium. The Lady Leopards had dropped their last 6 sectional final matchups coming into the night, but ended the streak Thursday.
Tournament History | 2023 At Green >>>
LHS is now 11-20 all-time in the postseason dating back to their inaugural season of 2003. This includes a 7-2 record when playing at home in the tournament.
This was the first ever matchup between Louisville and Eastlake North in girls soccer. The Rangers are the 69th unique opponent the Lady Leopards have faced in their history including the 16th different opponent Louisville Girls Soccer has faced in the postseason.
Louisville Heading to Districts at Green
The #3 seed Green Bulldogs edged the #19 seed Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs in overtime 2-1. According to Green Bulldogs Athletics Twitter account: Jaime Duskey scored on a shot from 45 yards out with 9 seconds lift in overtime to left Green past Stow.
The Bulldogs walk it off with :09 remaining in the overtime period when Jaime Duskey drills a shot from 45 yards out! Green defeats Stow in a thriller 2-1. The Bulldogs advance to the District semifinal match on Monday and will host the winner of Louisville/Eastlake North. https://t.co/AHSfnc4Au6
— Green Bulldogs (@Green_Bulldogs) October 20, 2023
Louisville is 0-7 all-time against Green, which includes 3 postseason contests in 2005, 2008, and 2009. The Lady Leopards will try to reverse this trend Monday when they travel to Green to take on the Bulldogs in hopes to advancing to their first district title in team history.
UP NEXT: The Lady Leopards will next travel to take on the Green Bulldogs on Monday, October 23. Game time is set for 6:00 PM from Green Memorial Stadium.
DI Northeast 2 Sectional Final Scores
Thursday, October 19
#3 Green 2, #21 Stow-Munroe Falls 1, OT
#10 Louisville 1, #19 Eastlake North 0
#4 Twinsburg 8, #23 Warren G. Harding 0
#8 Mentor 3, #18 Macedonia Nordonia 0
DI Northeast 2 District Semifinal Schedule
Monday, October 23
#10 Louisville at #3 Green, 6:00
#8 Mentor at #4 Twinsburg, 6:00
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Eastlake North at Louisville Girls Soccer Box Score
LEOPARDS 1, RANGERS 0
Team 1-2–TOTAL
Eastlake North 0-0–00
Louisville 1-0–01
1st Half
LOUISVILLE – Natalie Lab (PK) | LHS 1, ENHS 0, 24:20
2nd Half
NO SCORING
Records: Louisville 14-3-1
