No deficit too large, Louisville advances to soccer’s Final Four

Heavy snow added to the drama as the University of Louisville soccer team huddled prior to the NCAA quarterfinal soccer game Saturday against UCLA at Cardinal Park.

The situation was beginning to look bleak on a snowy night with the Louisville soccer team quickly trailing UCLA 2-0 with only 17 minutes gone in the NCAA quarterfinal match. Some fans in the crowd of 5,400 wondering whether UofL belonged on the same field.

A two-point deficit in soccer is really bad news, especially against a legendary program like UCLA’s. The school has won three national championships, been to 20 or consecutive Final Fours. Nice dream, Louisville.

Oh ye of little faith among the soccer wannabes.

Wasn’t discouraging Louisville goalie Andre Boudreaux who had never seen so many balls get past him in one game. “It was much too early to get frustrated,” he said.

UofL All America Colin Rolfe, as he has done all season, would provide the shot of adrenaline needed, exactly when it was required, scoring on a free kick from 22 yards out, the ball ricocheting off a UCLA player and into the net, cutting the deficit to one at the 28:21 mark.

Fear would creep back in again shortly afterward with UCLA managing another goal and a  3-1 lead, another one of those usually insurmountable soccer leads.

But this is Louisville soccer and this is 2010, a special season for UofL. Charlie Campbell would score another goal just before the half and Rolfe would get his second goal just minutes into the second to tie the score at 3-3.

The teams would exchange goals, tying the score at 4-4 before UofL’s Aaron Horton would streak past an army of defenders, including a charging goalie, to give Louisville the 5-4 win.

And the school’s first trip ever to the NCAA’s Final Four.