Aaron Horton: Last Minute Hero
Aaron Horton, future Homecoming King? With a Kyle Kuric-like performance in the Cardinal Park finale last weekend, Horton scored with 52 seconds left in the Quarterfinals Round to propel U of L over UCLA.
So with two minutes remaining and the score knotted at 1-1 in Friday night's College Cup Semifinal against UNC, head coach Ken Lolla subbed in Horton, a freshman, for leading goal-scorer and MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, junior Colin Rolfe. I tweeted that Lolla took our best player off the field. While technically true, I didn't notice that it was Horton who replaced Rolfe.
In what will likely end up being the substitution of the year in college soccer, Horton made me look like an idiot in stunning fashion. With 51 seconds remaining, the freshman ran onto a well-placed through-ball and deftly chipped it over the keeper and into the back corner of the net. Putting a new spin on the old moniker 'Cardiac Cards,' it was a moment the 150 or so Louisville fans in attendance will never forget.
The dream lives on. The journey to the National Championship game ends in Santa Barbara on Sunday afternoon. New kids on the block? Call it what you want--this Louisville men's soccer team is special.
Mrs. Ken Lolla: "One more game"