Talking with Walz and Players on WBB Media Day -- FH loses 3-2 to Wake -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

WBB MEDIA DAY AT KFC YUM! CENTER

Jeff Walz and the players and staff met with the media Friday afternoon at the KFC YUM! CENTER to discuss the upcoming 2018-19 women's basketball season. The session started with Walz at the podium.

Coach talked about practice, the preparations for the 2018 season, Halloween, Myisha Hines-Allen, the remaining squad and many other topics. 


You can here Coach's 30+ minute Q&A below: 

LINK: JEFF WALZ MEDIA DAY REMARKS

After Coach concluded his remarks, the action moved to Denny Crum Court inside the KFC YUM! Center for the official team picture shoot. The players had a lot of fun during that process and when it finished, they moved to various stations on the floor. I got some great and fun interviews with them and started with Bionca Dunham. We played "Truth or False" with the majority of the ones I spoke with. Click the links to hear: 

LINK: BIONCA DUNHAM

Next, I wandered over to catch Arica Carter. She was a popular attraction with the media Thursday, so I didn't get to have her accompany me to interview the other players, but caught some nice comments and a bit of joking with her: 

LINK: ARICA CARTER

Jess Laemmle was my next victim and Daryl Foust went with me to talk to her. This may have been the best interview of them all. We caught her a bit off-guard, but she recovered nicely and was a good sport about it. 

Everyone's favorite "Attack Yorkie" also accompanied me on interviews with a couple of the other 2018-19 WBB Cardinals and we also talked about her motivation of Myisha. 

LINK: JESS LAEMMLE

The pretty and witty Dana Evans was my next stop. She has had a fantastic summer and we discussed how things were going as well in practice. We let Daryl decide the false statement that Dana put out with the two true statements. A fun time with Dana!   

LINK: DANA EVANS

I then stopped in front of red-shirt freshman Lindsey Duvall. She and I are well versed in interviews and we had a great chat that Jess Laemmle was listening into intently. Things are going well for her and she reflected on watching a season from the bench. 

LINK: LINDSEY DUVALL


Jess accompanied me to go talk with Kylee Shook next. Kylee is looking forward to the season and knows she's going to have to assume a more aggressive and physical role this season. We teased her a bit on that and also got her to take part in the truth or falsehood game. 

She'll be an integral part of the Cardinal WBB front liners this season and looks ready to go! 

LINK: KYLEE SHOOK

I was running out of time that they designated for the interviews and decided to catch up with assistant coach Samantha Williams next. She stays busy on the road recruiting as well as coaching. We discussed the road and how things are going. I provided the true or false statements and she did the guessing. Hear how she did below: 

LINK: SAMANTHA WILLIAMS

The final interview is with Coach Sam Purcell. It's always a great talk with Sam and we covered a variety of subjects in our discussion. His enthusiasm for Louisville women's basketball is contagious...I couldn't even talk him into the Atlanta Hawks job...

LINK: SAM PURCELL

A great chance to catch up with some of the Cardinal players and coaches. I wish I could have got around to them all, but I hope you enjoy the ones I was able to talk with! 

Louisville WBB starts the season on Tuesday, Nov. 6th. with a trip to Bowling Green, KY to take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. CARDINAL COUPLE will be right there with them, covering the sights and sounds and shots! 


WAKE WINS AGAINST ACC FIELD HOCKEY

Far from the damp weather of Louisville, KY...the FH Cards traveled to Carolina to play in Karen Shelton Stadium on the UNC campus in ACC Field Hockey Tournament action. With just seven schools in the conference participating in Field Hockey, the format goes with three quarterfinal games ans the #1 seed (UNC) not playing until the next day in the semifinals. 

The weather was great in Chapel Hill, sunny and 70's, but the Field Hockey action not so great for Justine Sowry's flock of stick carrying Birds. Louisville fell 3-2 to #6 seed Wake Forest in the third game of the afternoon. It came down to a matter of capitalization, and the Demon Deacons got the last benefit from chances with 12 minutes remaining in action. WFU capitalized on a Kelsey Gill to Emily Anderson pass in the box and scored what would be the final tally of the contest. The Cards had an excellent to tie the match up again with less than three minutes left, but a penalty corner-shot attempt was stopped at the net.  

This one was a see-saw contest, Louisville striking early to take the lead when a penalty corner attempt set up Taylor Stone for the score. Wake responded with a score and the Cards regained the lead with about five minutes left in the first half, thanks to the magic of Meche Pastor. She drove the baseline with the ball and knocked a reverse-stick shot into the net. After a lengthy review to see if the ball actually went out of bounds during her trip down the baseline, the goal was upheld and the Cards led 2-1. 

The first half ended on a Demon Deacons penalty corner. They got off a rocket shot on Ayeshia McFerran that zipped by her out-stretched mitt to tie it at the half 2-2. 

Louisville, currently ranked #12 in the nation hopes to be included in the NCAA Tournament and will know whether that will happen or not on Sunday...when the NCAA selects the 2018 field at 10 p.m. on the NCAA Selection Show.

The bracket indicates that 20 teams will be selected to participate. Based on the automatic qualifiers and such, I can see maybe 5-6 ACC squads getting an invite to dance. One has to think the Cards are "in"...maybe as one of the final selections.  

You can watch at www.ncaa.com


DONATION MONTH

November is Donation Month at CARDINAL COUPLE. 

We have seen out site and radio show grow from a innovative look at the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports into a nationally recognized leader and authority on Cardinal Women's Athletics. We owe these successes to you, 

You're the ones who read us, listen to the radio show THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR and keep us going. 

We try to give a positive, comprehensive and entertaining look at the squads we cover on the Belknap Campus and beyond. Our staff has never been stronger with Worldwide Jeff McAdams, Case Hoskins and Jared Anderson helping me get the news out and covering the events, doing the interviews, taking the pictures and providing the insight. 

We can't do it alone, though. Even with three very good sponsors, our non-profit organization still has expenses year-round. Coverage, licensing, fees, travel, payment for radio air-time...the list of expenditures is lengthy. We feel it is well-worth it, though.


We draw no salary, our coverage is heartfelt and daily and we'd liked you to donate what you can to help us charge forward into 2019 and keep it coming for you.  

You can Pay-Pal us if you want (link below) or send a check. We appreciate you considering us! No amount is too small or too large. 

We know there are a lot of very worthy non-profits out there to choose from. We would be grateful and honored if you could add us to your list of donation-worthy causes. 

DONATIONS TO CARDINAL COUPLE THROUGH PAY PAL

Checks to: 

CARDINAL COUPLE
P.O. BOX 91521
LOUISVILLE, KY  40291. 

Thank you!



paulie
xxxxx



                                                        ########

WBB Media Day -- FH ACC Tournament -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

UofL Hosts Women's Basketball Media Day

In just a few short days the women's basketball team will begin their 2018-19 season.  They head to Bowling Green to face Western Kentucky to open the year on Tuesday.  Before that, we must have our annual media day. An event that traditionally start with Coach Walz making a "state of the Cards" presentation and then opening the floor to the assembled media.

After that, it's to the floor where breakout interviews with the individual players are available on the Denny Crum court floor. In past years this event has taken place at the S.A.C. building and on the Cardinal Arena court and also in the "Little Yum" practice facility on Floyd St.

Paulie will head downtown to 2nd and Main to cover the event for Cardinal Couple.  His much-anticipated interviews with co-host Arica Carter are sure to steal the show again.

Their will be interviews with the coaches and players as well as a chance to observe just a little bit of practice.  This is one of the rare times pictures and videos are allowed at a WBB gathering like this and having it downtown at the KFC YUM! Center this year, instead of on campus, makes it more of a gala-type and important event. Team pictures will be taken as well today, so we'll see what Paulie might have for us.  Tune in tomorrow to read and hear all about it!

Field Hockey Prepares for the ACC Tournament

Postseason play has started for a second fall sport.  The field hockey team hopes to build off of last year's postseason success as they face Wake Forest in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Game time is 4 p.m. on UNC's field. #3 seed vs. #6 seed. The RSN Network has the feed.

These 3-seeded Cards finished 3-3 in conference play after defeating Boston College, Syracuse, and Virginia.  This is the second straight year the Cards claimed the 3-seed after going 4-2 last year.

Earlier in the season Louisville fell at Wake Forest 4-2.  The loss was one of two on the year that the Cards fell by more than one goal (lost to UNC 3-1).  Louisville went into the half tied 1-1 with the Demon Deacons before being outscored 3-1 in the second half.  Wake Forest scored three goals in the span of 11 minutes.

Louisville is 2-4 in the ACC Tournament all-time with both wins coming in last year's run at Trager
Stadium.  They ended up falling in the final to North Carolina.  Every game Louisville has played in the ACC Tournament has resulted in a one goal differential whether they won or loss.

This game is a revenge game but is also trying to strengthen their argument to receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament.  At this point, with their 13-5 record, No. 12 coaches poll ranking, and No. 17 rpi ranking should be enough to get them in the 18-team tournament, but a victory over No. 20 Wake Forest should seal the deal.  Let's hope this UofL-Wake Forest match-up is a bit better than what we witnessed by the football team last week.

Four Cards Earn All-ACC Honors

Besides gearing up for the ACC Tournament UofL field hockey also had some good news as four players were announced to All-ACC teams.

Ayeisha McFerran and Mercedes Pastor were named to the All-ACC First Team.  This is third straight year earning conference honors for the senior goalkeeper.  Her 1.14 goals against average was second in the ACC and ninth in the country.  She has over 50 career victories and ranks high in wins, shutouts, and goals against average in Louisville history.

Pastor scored four goals and added two assists in a season where she started every game.  Besides her stat sheet accolades Pastor was the player the rest of the team looked to when needing someone to bring the ball up field or just for ball control purposes.  She should move into a bigger role next year as a junior.

Taylor Stone and Bethany Russ were named to the All-ACC Second Team.  Taylor, a senior midfielder also made the second team last year.  She's third on the team with four goals.  The co-captain played a crucial role on defense, helping the Cards record five shutouts and nine one-goal games.

Russ leads the team with 11 goals and a total of 24 points.  Six of those 11 goals were game-winners, ranking second in the conference.  Her scoring picked up in the second half of the season, providing an offensive spark when the Cards needed it most.

UNC swept the individual honors this year.


Donation Month

November is more than a month for Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving- it's the big month for Cardinal Couple.  Donation month is the one month of the year where we actively seek donations (although they are welcome year round!) to help us do what we do best- bring you everything in the realm of UofL women's sports.

The donations go toward keeping the website running, radio station costs, and travel and food for road trips for games.  Remember, all four of us are doing this for free just because of our love for what we do.Licensing, fees,...so many things to pay each year, but we do it in the aspect of bringing the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports.

As we progress through the month you will hear from all four of us about Donation Month, what it means to us, and some personal experiences and stories during our time here at Cardinal Couple.

Whether you have a dollar or a thousand dollars, or if the lottery winner is an active CC reader, we will gladly accept any donation you are willing to give.



You can send your donation via PayPal. Check out the link at the end of this article or go to the top of the article and click the PayPal logo there. Or, you can donate by mail:

Cardinal Couple
P.O. Box 91521
Louisville, KY 40291

You can make checks payable to "Cardinal Couple" and just write "donation" on the memo line!

Remember, YOU are Cardinal Couple!
We NEVER forget that and appreciate you.

LINK FOR PAY-PAL DONATION BELOW:

DONATE TO CARDINAL COUPLE VIA PAY-PAL

Happy Thursday and Go Cards!

- Jared -