Lacrosse, Softball pick up wins, WBB faces Pitt today -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

LACROSSE SINK COASTAL CAROLINA 16-7

Ball reaches for a stop. 

The University of Louisville Lacrosse squad sunk Coastal Carolina 16-7 yesterday at the LLS with a game ending 5-0 run in a rainy match that pushed the Cards to 4-1 on the season 

Louisville got four scores from freshman Carolina Blalock and three other UofL laxers had multiple scores against the Chanticleers, who lost their opening match of the season and have never defeated the Cards. 

UofL started the match in very good fashion, getting eight goals from seven different players to build a 8-1 lead in the first half...but the visitors from Conway, SC  rallied for three scores in the final 2:30 of the first half...including two goals in the final minute...to cut the Louisville advantage to 8-4 at the halftime break. 

Cards score! The Cards score !!

"We definitely went over that. It wasn't the way we wanted to go into the locker room." Louisville Lacrosse head coach Scott Teeter commented after the contest. "It was a little bit of a breakdown for us and credit Coastal for making the plays. We'll obviously have to fix that and go in with a bigger lead." 

The late first half rally seemed to bolster the visitors psyche and approach toward the game as second half action began. They stayed within four goals of the Cards and were dsown 11-7 before Louisville went on the game ending run. Besides Blalock's four goals, Julia Wood and Jillian Balog picked up three scores for Louisville and Emily Howell picked up two in a reserve role. 

Blalock talked about her team leading performance: 

Coach Teeter reminds the ref where the field is. 

"My teammates created space for me. I listened to my coaching and finished my shots."

Louisville defense looked very good at times again in yesterday's contest. Goalkeeper Lexie Ball had six saves on the afternoon. The LouLaxers out-shot the CCU squad 33-16 for an impressive 48.4% and won the draw controls 16-9. 

The Cards travel to Nashville, TN next for a Thursday, Feb 27th. 4 p.m. match against Vanderbilt. 

Watch post game with Coach Teeter, Julia Wood and Caroline Blalock: 

LINK TEETER, WOOD AND BLALOCK DISCUSS WIN OVER CCU

(Lacrosse photos by Jared Anderson.) 


SOFTBALL TAKES TWO IN ORLANDO

Louisville Softball took both games yesterday in the D9 Citrus Classic yesterday with a five inning, 12-4 romp over Morgan State and 5-4, eight-inning victory over South Alabama. 


MORGAN STATE

Jamie Soles wielded the big bat for UofL in the game, going, scoring three runs and driving in two in the 12-4  five-inning, run-rule shortened affair. The hit and pitch Cards got a strong effort out of freshman Danielle Watson in relief -- she did not surrender a hit or run in 3.1 innings. 

Scoring was no problem for Louisville. They pounded the Bears for seven first inning runs, led by Caitlin Ferguson's two-RBI triple. MSU countered for three runs in the bottom half of the inning but Louisville added four more runs in the fourth...Soles' triple the big hit in the inning. 

Coach Peasall on the win: 

"We had the opportunity to get some of our younger players in to see what they were capable of doing and they did some very good things. By and large, I was pleased with our performance." 

SOUTH ALABAMA

That's a BIG dog! If you can identify what kind of
dog it is, we'll register you for a PANERA gift card!
First correct answer gets the entry. 

Megan Hensley was pitching perfection through 5 2/3rds innings with a no-hitter and the Cards pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the eighth when Maddy Newman was safe at the plate on a fielder's choice from Celine Funke in the 5-4 victory. 

Nicole Pufahl went 2-2 at the bat and Danielle Watson came in to pick up her second run of the day in relief for the Cards (9-4). Louisville led 3-0 until the Jaguars got to Hensley with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Cards took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth, with the bases loaded Ferguson was hit by a pitch which brought home Pufahl. 

USA tied it in the top of the seventh before the Cards captured the win with the bottom of the eighth. Coach Pearsall remarked: 

"We came out and did a great job in the beginning. I thought we were very pumped up. I though we did a great job of understanding who they were getting ready to play . Again, the thing that has been our Achilles' heel, we made a very crucial mistake in the game and a few more that followed.If you add walks to that equalizer, it ends up going to extra innings." 

Louisville returns to the diamond for their final game, a morning affair against Harvard at 9 a.m.

SENIOR (MYISHA) DAY FOR UOFL WBB

Myisha conducts an impromptu interview

It hardly seems that Cardinal front-liner Myisha Hines-Allen has been here for years. She'll be the lone senior honored today at 2 p.m. when the Cards face Pitt in the KFC YUM! Center to close out the regular season. 

I could write for hours about what the 6'2" All-American candidate has done in her career here but most of you probably have your own favorite "DOO-BLAY" remembrance or story. She's created a bucket-full of things to fondly reflect on  in her career and, hopefully, will add a few more chapters to the book that is Myisha Hines-Allen. Just a few of the many accomplishments: 

- 110 wins in her career

- One of two Cards with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. 

- Fourth all-time in Cardinal scoring history. 

- 42 career double-doubles...tops in ACC history and second in Louisville women's basketball.  


It is hoped...maybe even mandated... that Cardinal fans  show up with huge numbers, despite the flooding in Louisville, to pay tribute and honor the paint prowler. She deserves nothing less. It won't be the last time she's expected to step on Denny Crum Court...the Cards will open the NCAA Tournament with (hopefully) two games at home, but the Montclair, NJ native has been a remarkable asset to a 27-2 Louisville team that is #4 in the nation and a legitimate contender for the FINAL FOUR in Columbus. 

Myisha often speaks about "senior moments". Today will be one of those unforgettable ones down by the river and when asked about what she'd say to the crowd in an interview earlier this week, she paused and reflected...finally saying she wasn't quite sure yet. There was a bit of crack in her voice and her eyes brimmed with tears. 

It's OK, Mooks. You've said quite a lot in your court performances over your time here at Louisville. A lot of things we'll all remember. 

Pitt comes into the game 10-18 and 2-13. They've lost their last five outings. They're destined to play on opening day of the ACC Tournament and it certainly isn't the season that Susie McConnell-Serio could have envisioned for her squad at the start of the season. 

Louisville handled the Panthers 77-51 in the Petersen Event Center back in mid-January and one would hope the Cards would respond in similar fashion today against the ACC's leading shot-blocking squad.  

I'll probably  get a little emotional today as well when they bring #2 out and we honor and laud her efforts over her career. I remember interviewing her via phone back when she was a high-school senior and about to commit to the Cards. A shy and hesitant Hines-Allen back then. To see how much she has grown is rewarding and a tribute to her work efforts and philosophy on life. Myisha goes out and looks to get the job done. No quit in her. Not afraid of hard work and quick to show her emotions and encourage her teammates. A leader. 

A champion.

Let's hope the rest of the Cards can mirror that and deliver a big win to honor and celebrate one of the best to ever don a Louisville jersey. 


Paulie
xxxxx













  


LACROSSE