Commodores, Cards battle to 0-0 draw

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Neither team allowed a goal in 90 minutes of exhibition play Saturday as Vanderbilt and Louisville played to a 0-0 draw at Cardinal Park.

Following regulation, both coaching staffs agreed to forgo the normal overtime period and instead have a friendly penalty shootout. With the shootout tied at 4-4 heading into Louisville’s fifth and final attempt, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Alexa Levick stepped up and made a save to keep VU in the contest.

Senior Emily Grant then connected on VU’s sixth PK attempt to give the Dores a 5-4 lead that would become the decisive margin when Louisville’s sixth attempt was missed.

In her first collegiate appearance, Levick also made two saves during regulation to post a clean sheet. Louisville senior Chloe Kiefer matched Levick with two saves of her own. Overall, Vanderbilt was narrowly outshot by Louisville, 9-8.

“I thought tonight was a great test for our young team,” first-year Head Coach Derek Greene said. “To come away with a 0-0 tie on the road against a really good Louisville team is a solid performance by us.

“We had some really brights spots throughout the game. We possessed the ball well in the first half, and I was pleased with the way we were able to respond in the second half when Louisville put a little more pressure on us. Alexa Levick came up with a couple of great saves to keep us in the game and give us a chance to win.”

Along with Levick, freshmen Gena Inbusch and Taylor Richardson were both in the starting 11 for the Commodores, joined by three seniors, three juniors and two sophomores. The contest’s start time was delayed 35 minutes due to heavy rain and lightning.

Saturday’s game marks the halfway point of Vanderbilt’s 2011 preseason. The Commodores will open the regular season on Sunday, August 21, when Furman visits the VU Soccer Complex for a 1 p.m. CT contest.