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Aug. 19, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's soccer team will officially open the 2009 season on Friday at 7 p.m. ET at Cardinal Park against the Miami University RedHawks.

The game, the first of eight at home for the Cardinals in 2009, will be the first meeting between Louisville and Miami since the Cards earned a 3-0 win in Oxford, Ohio, on Aug. 27, 2006. U of L has won two straight against Miami, but trails 4-2 overall in the series, which dates back to 1997.

The Cardinals return seven starters from the 2008 squad, which finished with a 9-7-3 record overall, led by senior Lindsay Boling and sophomore Giselle Mangal. Boling led the Cards with six goals last season, while Mangal was second on the squad with five goals and three assists. Head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes, entering her 10th season with Louisville, also welcomes a talented group of freshman, led by goalkeeper Taylor Vancil, who spent the summer playing for the US Under-20 National Team.

Miami returns eight starters and 14 letterwinners from a squad that was 6-12-1 overall and 5-6 in Mid-American Conference games in 2008. Head coach Bobby Kramig enters his 13th season as the head coach at Miami and his 27th season overall.

Following Friday night's season-opener, Louisville will take to the road for a showdown with in-state rival Kentucky on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. ET in Lexington, Ky. The Cardinals will then return home to host the Courtyard by Marriott Airport Cardinal Classic on Sept. 4-6 at Cardinal Park. U of L will host South Carolina on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. ET, and Saint Louis on Sept. 6 at 1 p.m.