Let’s get this clear from the get go.

I do not intend to hold myself out as some sort of expert on soccer. I have a passing interest and curiosity that comes from the inveterate sports fan I’ve always been.

Nor do I intend to disparage other American sports fans who, not understanding or wanting to understand the game, make demeaning remarks about the world’s favorite and quite fascinating sport.

* * * * *

What I will say is this. #1-ranked and still undefeated U of L’s W over Providence in the BEast conference tourney final was mighty exciting.

Louisville shut out conference foes — West Virginia in the 1st round, Notre Dame in the semis and Providence in the finals — for 268 1/2 of 270 possible minutes. As we’d say down at the sports bar, that’s some kind of defense.

Anyway, in today’s final, Colin Rolfe scored a searing goal to put the Cards up 1 zed with a little over five minutes to play. But gave it up with 90 seconds on the clock, when Providence scored on a penalty kick to knot it at 1.

The teams played two scoreless sudden death OTs. The star: Providence goalie Jhojan Obando. He thwarted continuous Cardinal pressure the entire game, including a major double shot onslaught in the OT.

Ah, but when it came time for the penalty kick phase, a new star shone: Louisville goalie Andre Boudreaux. He blocked two Friar goal attempts to lock the game up for the red & black.

Ken Lolla’s squad is sure to enter the upcoming NCAA tourney as a 1 seed.

– Seedy K