TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State opens up the 2023 season on the road on Thursday night at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium in Louisville, Ky. as the Sycamores take on the University of Louisville. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Cardinals is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.
 
First-year head coach Paul Lawrence takes the sidelines for the Sycamores for his first regular season game in the Blue & White after a decorated coaching stint at Florida Southern. The Sycamore head coach is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he guided the Moccasins to the first Sunshine State regular season in program history.
 
He inherits a squad that is coming off a 2-11-3 overall season, but showed promise led by 2022 All-Freshmen selections Adelaide Wolfe and Ella Gorrie. The Sycamores return veteran leaders Carlie Jensen, Mackenzie Kent, Chloe Tesny, and Maddie Alexander to the pitch among 21 players returning to the roster in 2023.
 
Newcomers to keep an eye on include transfers Brooklyn Woods, Emma Elliott, Anna Chor, and Lina Fasquelle, while freshmen Trystyn Divich, Gabby Starman, Isabel Garcia, and Audrey Roberts are all in the mix for playing time right away.
 
Indiana State battled through an 0-1-1 mark in their preseason exhibition season with the Sycamores tying with Purdue, 1-1, while falling at home to Bellarmine, 2-1. Sasha Thompson and Tesny both scored for ISU in the preseason as the Sycamores developed their offensive strategies under Lawrence.
 
Other players that stood out early in the attack include Alexa Mackey, Isabella Hunter, Nora Henderson, and Kent, while Gorrie and Ella Roesch are prepared to reprise their role in the midfield this season.
 
The defense has been strong throughout the preseason with Wolfe, Kloe Pettigrew, Woods, Maddie Helling, Corynn DeGroote and Josie Bakaitis, as well as Roberts, have been providing strong looks throughout the year. Olivia Lovell has also been in the early mix on both the offensive and defensive ends.
 
All three keepers on the ISU roster saw playing time in the 2023 preseason. Maddie Alexander, Alexa Seiler, and Madeline Lotspeich all spent time between the pipes in the early portion of the year. Alexander is two seasons removed from receiving All-MVC accolades as a sophomore after finishing among the conference leaders in saves and save percentage.
 
ISU will face a stiff test to open the 2023 regular season as the Cardinals return 19 players from last year's team that went 6-8-2 overall on the year. Louisville boasted a 3-1-2 mark against non-conference competition in 2022 allowing four goals over the six contests.
The Cardinals enter the season in their 24th year under head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes. Louisville was selected 11th overall in the 2023 ACC women's soccer preseason poll as voted on by the league's head coaches.
 
The season opener at Louisville marks the first of two road matches to open the 2023 season for Indiana State. ISU will continue the opening week of the season on Sunday evening at Miami (Ohio) with a kickoff time of 6 p.m. in Oxford.
 
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