On the verge of something special, but down they go. Again.
Still the year 2016, folks, a memorable one for University of Louisville athletics, and not in a good way. Lots of potential, plenty of wins, but consistently falling short of any special post-season milestones.
The latest to fall is the UofL soccer team. Just one game short of making it to the sport’s Final Four, teasing fans with the possibility of a national championship. Losing by a score of 2-0 to Stanford, the defending national champion, before a crowd of 3,247 Saturday at the Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium.
The first goal, a self-inflicted blow, the ball ricocheting off a UofL player into the net at the 63:21 mark in the second half. A dark cloud of impending doom settling over the stadium.
The UofL baseball team back in June holding a 2-0 lead over Santa Barbara, only to have Zach Burdi load the bases and give up a grand slam home run and lose 4-2 — two games short of another College World Series.
The UofL men’s basketball team blocked from competing in the ACC and NCAA tournaments.school announcing a self-imposed post-season ban in February, continuing the embarrassing aftermath of the Andre McGee shenanigans.
The eighth-ranked UofL women’s basketball team, on the verge of another Sweet 16 appearance, somehow drops a 74-73 decision to Depaul on a last second shot.
The UofL football team contending for spot in the College Football Playoffs through the first 10 weeks of the season, only to self-destruct at Houston and roll over the cliff against Kentucky in the final game.
Been that kind of a year. Grin and bear it, just four more weeks and 2016 is done.