LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Maddie Alexander posted nine saves over 23 shots on Thursday night as Indiana State and Louisville battled to a 0-0 tie in the 2023 regular season opener at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium.
 
Alexander posted her 11th career shutout at ISU (0-0-1) as the Sycamores held off a pressing Louisville (0-0-1) attack throughout the match in the opening contest for both teams. Louisville posted nine shots in the first half and 14 in the second half, but the Sycamore defense and Alexander held the Cardinals off the board in the second all-time matchup between the programs.
 
Louisville held possession throughout a majority of the contest and nearly scored midway through the first half as a ball deflected off Alexander and off the left post before remaining in play. The Sycamore defense was relentless through the first 45 minutes with the Battle Creek, Mich. native posting a trio of saves to keep the Cardinals off the board.
 
The second half saw Louisville continue to press the attack as UL attempted 14 shots with six on target over the final 45 minutes. Alexander proved up to the task saving all shots on goal including a punch-out in the 77th minute of the contest to keep the score intact at 0-0.
 
Indiana State pressed possession late in the contest, but the Sycamores were unable to get a shot attempt off in the closing minutes as the teams settled for the scoreless tie.
 
Thursday's game featured Louisville holding the 23-0 edge in shots and 9-0 advantage in shots on goal. The Cardinals also posted eight corner kicks while the teams posted an even 11-11 mark in fouls.
 
News & Notes

• Maddie Alexander posted her 11th collegiate shutout and first since Sept. 25, 2022, when the Sycamore goalkeeper blanked Illinois State in the 1-0 win in Normal, Ill.
• Alexander's nine saves were one off a career-high 10 set back on Oct. 22, 2021, also against Illinois State.
• Head Coach Paul Lawrence made his regular season sideline debut for Indiana State after assuming the helm of the program back in April.
• Anna Chor and Emma Elliott both made their Sycamore starting debuts in the lineup as the transfers both made their first appearance in the Blue & White on Thursday.
• Freshmen Trystyn Divich and Isabel Garcia made their collegiate debuts off the bench, while transfer Lina Fasquelle also made her first ISU appearance in the contest.
• Six ISU players made it through all 90 minutes on the pitch including Alexander, Alexa Mackey, Adelaide Wolfe, Kloe Pettigrew, Maddie Helling, and Elliott.
• Wolfe was ISU's minutes leader in the 2022 season with 1,381 on the field.
• ISU's tie against Louisville moved the Sycamores to 0-1-1 all-time against the Cardinals. Louisville remains the only ACC school Indiana State has lined up against in program history.
• Indiana State was held without a shot for the first time since Northwestern kept the Sycamores out of the column back on Sept. 1, 2016.

Up Next
Indiana State remains on the road on Sunday evening as the Sycamores make the trip to Oxford, Ohio to take on the Miami Redhawks at Bobby Kramig Field. Kickoff between the teams is set for 6 p.m.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Soccer, visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.