By Nathan L. Redd

The Louisville Lightning have been plagued by slow starts this season, often using dominant second and third quarters to pull out victories.  Friday, however, the Lightning jumped out early, then held off the Illinois Piasa to grab the 7-4 PASL win at Mockingbird Valley Sports Complex.  Louisville’s Luis Pacheco and Charlie Campbell led the way with two goals apiece. 

Louisville scored four goals in the first quarter of Friday’s game, building a commanding 4-0 lead on the Illinois Piasa.  They would only score three more goals the rest of the night, but it would be enough to hold off the feisty Illinois Piasa at Mockingbird. 

It looked early like Louisville would roll over the Piasa.  After Oliver Dyson’s shot just missed the mark in the opening moments, Charlie Campbell would put Louisville on the scoreboard less than three minutes in with a rolling shot from the right side to make it 1-0.  Just over four minutes later, Campbell would strike again with a bullet from the left side just behind the red line to make it a 2-0 game.

Illinois star Elvir Kafedzic would test Lightning goalkeeper Frank Peabody twice midway through the first period, but Tee Shipalane would add to the lead moments later.  The former DC United star used some beautiful footwork to beat two defenders and slip it past Illinois goalkeeper Greg Crook to make it 3-0. 

The Piasa’s Mike Jones would go down late in the first quarter with an injury, but Jones would return later to cut into the Lightning lead.  That lead would grow, however, because former University of Louisville star Luis Pacheco would score his first of two goals on the night to put the Lightning up 4-0 just before the end of the quarter. 

Looking to cut into the deficit, Illinois would come out firing in the second quarter.  The visitors would have four great looks early, then Elvir Kafedzic would finally knock one past Frank Peabody to make it a 4-1 game.  Roger Gemoules would nearly make it 4-2 on a shot on goal that was deflected just in time by Peabody to preserve the three-goal lead.  Moments later, the Piasa’s bad luck would continue as a Zach Bauer shot would hit the crossbar and bounce back into play. 

Despite the Piasa’s hard work in the second period, Louisville would add to the lead when Oliver Dyson would strike to make it 5-1.  Mike Jones, returning from his early injury, would score with 8:45 left to make it 5-2, but the Lightning would add another just over two minutes later.  Scott Stockum would score less than four minutes before the break to make it 6-2.  Illinois would continue to battle once again in the final moments of the first half, but the two teams would head to the locker rooms with Louisville on top 6-2. 

A week after the Lightning honored four University of Louisville stars chosen in the Major League Soccer Super Draft, the collegiate soccer powerhouse would make their presence felt again.  This time it would be former stars Simon Bird and Luis Pacheco teaming up for a Cardinal Connection to score the Lightning’s seventh goal of the night.  With Bird working on the left, he would find Pacheco on the right flank, who slipped it past Greg Crook to make it 7-2 in the third period. 

Louisville would earn a free kick moments later, but John Michael Hayden would be unable to convert on it.  The Piasa would then earn a free kick of their own off a Ryan McDonald foul, but Alen Bradaric’s resulting shot would sail high.  The two teams would finish the third period at 7-2. 

Two promising Louisville chances would open the final period, with a free kick missing the mark, then a Luis Pacheco shot that floated too high.  Illinois would continue to attack, however, and Frank Peabody would come up with two great saves to keep the momentum on the Lightning’s side.  The Piasa would score moments later, however, as Elvir Kafedzic would chip a shot over the heads of the Lightning defenders and Frank Peabody into the back of the net to make it 7-3 with 11:30 remaining. 

Illinois would suffer a scare in the final period, as Muriz Smajic would hit his head on the glass to the right of the Lightning goal, falling to the turf as a result.  Doctors would evaluate the Piasa star, and Smajic would be ok to the relief of fans and players Friday. 

The Piasa would continue to attack once play resumed, and a Louisville power-down late would give the visitors a boost to try to get back in the game.  Under two minutes left, Illinois would miss two great opportunities, but Jon Fridal would bounce a shot past Peabody with 1:12 remaining to make it 7-4.  The two sides would continue to fight in the final minute, with Elvir Kafedzic nearly making it a two-goal match before Peabody came up with another fantastic save.

The final buzzer would sound and Louisville would hang on for the 7-4 win over the Illinois Piasa.  Charlie Campbell and Luis Pacheco led the Lightning with two goals apiece, while Elvir Kafedzic would add two for the Piasa.  Louisville outshot Illinois 26-19 on the evening.  Frank Peabody had 15 saves for Louisville, while the Piasa goalkeeping tandem of Greg Crook and Justin McMillian would combine for 19 saves. 

The Lightning have a quick turnaround, as they travel to Canton, Ohio tonight to take on the Ohio Vortex.  Kickoff from the Canton Civic Center is set for 7 PM Saturday evening.