I love me some soccer. Seriously. You just wait until World Cup time rolls around again. I’ll be finding the absolute best bar for watching (my heart is with the Irish Rover but if there’s a better futbol watching spot I’m listening). That love confessed I’m excited to tell you about a soccer event here in Louisville this weekend.

The Indiana FC W-League team will play a brand new Kentuckiana based semi-professional team in an exhibition game at Cardinal Park this Sunday. Indiana FC is the only women’s professional soccer team in North America. It is loaded with international stars from Africa, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Europe, Australia and the US. Recently it wrapped up a first place divisional championship and will play for the overall W-League Championship in late July.

The W-League which consists of teams from forty-seven cities from Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, New York to California has filled the gap since the Woman’s Professional League folded a few years ago. Indiana FC enjoys a 12-0-1 regular season record. Anton Maksimov, General Manager for the team says, “We are happy that the Kentuckiana area is working on a possible franchise and we are glad to showcase both your team and ours in such a wonderful soccer community”.

The local team is loaded with former high school and college stars from the area and local colleges. Former University of Louisville standouts, Hollie Minougue (Assumption High School), Amy Seng, Heather Engel, Lynda Keeton and Lindsay Bowling (Sacred Heart Academy) and Jenny Jones (Assumption High School) who currently play at U of L. will play for the local team. Kristal Mendard (South Oldahm High School) and Lindley Beckman (Ballard High School) starred at the University of Mississippi, Jamie Hutchinson (Oldham County High School) played at the University of Kentucky and was a former Miss Kentucky High School Player of the Year. Bellarmine University will be represented by Marisa Larkin, Megan Sarason, and Stephanie Shwebber, Sheri Kiser (Oldham County High School) played at Arkansas State Other players are Lindy Barber (Assumption High School) and University of Dayton, Liza Koch (Manual High School) who has signed with the University of Richmond and Emily McWilliams who played at Spaulding University, and Chelsea King who current plays for Catholic University.

There will be soccer contest at half time for local youth soccer players.

Tickets for the game can be purchased at the gate for $1 for high school age and under and $3 for adults. The event is sponsored by the Louisville Soccer Alliance, Mockingbird Soccer Club and Manual High School Girl’s Soccer Team.

Sunday July 20, 2008 at 2 PM
Cardinal Park