CARDINAL COUPLE

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Thursday, August 31, 2017

Setting the "Barr" and an away weekend for most UofL sports -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE



HOLLYN "SETTING THE BARR" AT GOALKEEP FOR FIELD HOCKEY

Barr named Longstreth/NFHCA NAtional Defender of the Week


After waiting patiently for a season behind the 2016 UofL Field Hockey goalkeeper Ayeshia McFerran...sophomore Hollyn Barr knows a thing or two about patience, learning and being prepared. With McFerran sidelined with an injury right now, Barr...who was the third string goalie last season... was the only goalkeeper left on the roster and was pressed into action for the 2017 season. No need to panic, though...she was ready to raise the "barr". 




Hollyn was impressive in the preseason wins in exhibitions against the alums and Miami (OH). How would she hold up, though, against a better-than-average IU squad and the defending national champions in #3 Delaware? 

The answer is just fine, thank you.

She allowed just one goal in the #9 Cards regular season opener against the Hoosiers last Friday in UofL's 4-1 win. The same scenario Sunday...one goal as the Cards down the Blue Hens 3-1. 140 minutes of tending the nets, an average of 1.0 goals allowed per contest and 13 saves on shot on goal. For comparison, McFerran had a 1.24 average for 2016 on goals allowed per game...which was in the top five in the nation and graduated back up goalkeeper Elina Pereira had an average of 1.96 goals per game in 35 minutes of play. 

Good goalkeeping is promoted a lot by stellar defense and the Cards had a few gaps to fill in there as well. Senior Abby Grimes, normally a midfielder with excellent attacking abilities was transitioned into a defender. So was sophomore Carter Ayars. Junior Taylor Stone has seen her share of defensive work...plus freshmen Meghan Schneider, Alli Bitting and AnnMarie Habelow all getting starts on the back line. 

Good goalkeeping is also benefited by an aggressive offensive attack against the opponents and the Cards have shown the propensity to advance the ball. Favorites Minnie Mink and Marigrace Ragsdale are back for the Cards on the attack and...combined with freshman Marisa Martin Pelligrina...have been responsible for four goals and six assists this season. Maybe we should call them "the M M and M girls" or "Triple M's".

Yes, it is still early in the season. Plenty of hockey to be played. The Cards head to Columbus, OH this weekend to face the Buckeyes in their home opener. The Ohio State University dispatched Lehigh 4-0 on the road last weekend. That's the start of a strenuous six game road swing that will have UofL Field Hockey in Columbus for the Buckeyes and Kent State, in College Park, MD for Maryland and American, visiting Durham for the ACC Conference opener against Duke and going to Evanston, IL for always-strong Northwestern.


I did inquire why Louisville was still ranked at their preseason ranking of #9 after knocking off the Blue Hens. I was told by George Lane...director of ACC Communications...that rankings aren't released until the end of the second week of competition. 

You learn something new every day.

What opponents will learn is that they're playing a rock-solid Louisville team that features speed, multiple scorers and a fondness for controlling the action down around the foe's net...plus a denying defense. 

They'll also discover if you hang around the "Barr" and her "barr"tenders...they'll make you pay. 


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ROAD TRIP(S) 

Besides Field Hockey travelling this Labor Day weekend, we also find women's soccer on the road for tests at UK Friday and Southeastern Missouri State on Monday. Men's Soccer travels to Georgia State for a Friday match and...of course...the Louisville Football team will be in Indy Saturday for a showdown with Purdue. 

Volleyball remains on campus. They host the Cardinal Classic that starts on Friday night with a match against Western Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. They'll face Kent State at 12:30 Saturday afternoon (which will have Worldwide doing his Dagwood Bumstead imitation of dashing out of the Crescent Hill Radio studios to get to Cardinal Arena) and the Wide Net gals will conclude the Classic Saturday night against, yet another Big 10 foe...this time the fighting Illini from Champaign. 

Remember that games at Cardinal Arena (and elsewhere on campus) have now implemented the "clear bag" policy. You can read more about that at the link below: 

CLEAR BAG POLICY FOR CARDINAL ARENA

I'll see you again on the radio Saturday morning for THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR and here on these pages next Tuesday. Case and Worldwide will get you through the weekend here at the site. If i don't run into you, have a great Labor Day weekend. Be safe, responsible and stay dry tomorrow...the Louisville area could be pretty wet Friday. 


paulie
xxxxx







6 comments:

  1. How long is McFerran out for, what is the injury and will she resume as a starter when she comes back? Nothing against Hollyn of course but McFerran was an All-American goalie last year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A good bunch of questions. I have inquired within the Field Hockey program about the injury and time frame but have not received an answer yet.

      Paulie

      Delete
    2. Have you tried reaching out to the Irish National Team, Paulie? I assume that's where she sustained the injury and they may be less (or more) tight lipped since she isn't currently with the team.

      Delete
    3. Good idea but I got my answer (kinda) she has been in a boot and they are waiting for HIPAA clearance before they announce why
      It is possible she'll see limited playing time this weekend.

      Delete
  2. Again...the whole "clear bag" policy is nothing but security theatre. Just like all the ridiculous stuff at Yum. I can think of many, many different ways to "cause trouble" at any sporting facility than trying to carry in a gun or whatever. I'll have my wallet in one pants pocket and my phone in another.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was stpped at the first women's soccer game I attended this year by a "blue shirt" who going to deny me access with my media bag....which is not clear or plastic. Fortunately the "yellow shirts" intervened and explained the media policy. One even pointed out my badge to him. Apology offered and accepted and I haven't had any trouble since.

    Paulie

    ReplyDelete

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