Lacrosse Cards Look to Take Down Team USA -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

As we're fully into the summer slump now, the news gets more and more sparse. I'm filling in for Daryl today, and I've got the write again tomorrow, so no fair jumping on me about not emptying the coffers in today's column. Daryl should return next week, but, for now, enjoy a look at Cards playing outside of their season.

Team Canada Heads to World Championship Final

Ten representatives from the Louisville lacrosse program went to Maryland last week to begin their representation of their countries. All ten advanced to the knockout stage of the final sixteen teams, but only one of the five teams remains. The team in question is Canada, which is home to six of the ten Cards participating in the tournament. The Canadians, led by Scott Teeter on the bench and featuring Kay Morissette on the field, had to knock out Monica Negron of Puerto Rico and Anna Lottmann of the Czech Republic. Kokoro Nakazawa's Japan team was knocked out by the US in the quarter finals and Stephanie McNamara's Australian squad fell to the Yanks in the semis. 

Canada, which is also represented by Allison Daley (assistant coach), Nicole Perroni, Hannah Morris, and Brenna Shanahan, defeated England 11-9 in their semifinal yesterday to advance to the rematch with the US. Kay Morissette had eight draw controls alone, matching the entire total for England. Team Canada and Team USA played each other to open the tournament in a game in which the US took victory 16-11. Team USA is chasing their fourth consecutive title as they will play in their 11th straight gold medal match. In addition to a rematch of the opener, this is also the third straight gold medal match to feature this matchup. Scott Teeter and company will look to finish the job tomorrow at Noon. The Lacrosse World Championship site gives conflicting reports for the television viewing, so be sure to check both ESPN2 and ESPNU around that time to find the game.

Until next time, Go Cards!

Case

Lacrosse opens ACC Tournament against Virginia -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

#6 Seeded Cards face the Cavs at 8 p.m. 

Kellie Young's Louisville Lacrosse squad begins ACC Tournament play tonight in Richmond, VA at Sports Backers Stadium. The Cards (11-6, 3-4) are #18 in the nation. They face the #3 seed Virginia (10-7, 4-3) which is #12 in the nation. 

Louisville visited Virginia earlier in the season on April 15th and fell to the Cavaliers 11-7. The Cards had a 6-5 lead at halftime but a strong second half defense from UVA limited UofL to just one second half score.

For the Cards, Hannah Koloski leads the offense with 58 goals and two assists in 2017. She, along with Brittany Read made the 2017 All-ACC First squad. Meghan Siverson was selected for the second team. Koloski, a senior from Lakeville, MN leads the nation in free position goals with 1.53, is second in shots on goal with 6 a contest fourth in goals scored with 58. Coach Young on the trio: 

"Hannah, Brittany and Meghan have been such significant parts of our success. Hannah has faced the top defenders from every team...game after game...she has battled face guards and double teams and still fond a way to score."  

Read, a junior from Gibbsboro, NJ has been stellar in goalkeep after returning from a season ending injury last year. She's fourth in the nation with 10.06 saves per game and stops 51.7% of the shots she faces. She leads the ACC in saves, save percentage and saves per game. Read also owns the school record with 300 career saves. 

Siverson has been a pleasant surprise this season. After a freshmen year of limited playing time, she stepped into center midfielder spot and produced 51 goals and eight assists. Another "Jersey girl" ...from Morristown...she averaged three goals made per game.

Madison Hoover (18) and Ashley Lynch (17) led Louisville in assists this season. Freshman McKayla Conti has also been a valuable contributor in the attack and senior Stephanie McNamara is one of the best defensive players in the nation. 

All games today will be shown on the ACC Network Extra and action gets started at 11 a.m. when #1 seed North Carolina faces #8 seed Duke. #4 seed Notre Dame will face off against #5 Boston College at 2 p.m. #2 Syracuse goes against #7 Virginia Tech at 5 p.m.

25 teams participated in the 2016 NCAA women's lacrosse tournament. With a current rank of #18 or #19 (depending on which poll you look at) in the nation, you have to like Louisville's chances of getting a bid...but a win or two in the ACC Tournament would certainly secure the Cards a spot in the bracket. 

Seven of the eight ACC schools are in the top twenty. The Cards RPI is #27. 

Finish might be the most appropriate word to use when assessing the Cards chances over the next several days. Young's squad has held first half leads over five of the seven ACC schools they played this year (Virginia, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Syracuse and Duke). They lost three of these games (Virginia, Notre Dame, North Carolina). The Cards trailed Boston College at halftime and lost. Against Virginia Tech, Louisville was tied at the half and went on to win. 

60 minutes. Finish as strong as you start. That is the key, if LouLax wants to pile up a few wins at the end of the season. That quest begins tonight, in what could possibly be the final game of the year for Louisville...if they fall. 


paulie
xxxxx

Lacrosse wins, Baylor looms -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

NINE SCORERS IN 15-6 LAX WIN OVER DUKES

The Duquesne nickname is "the Dukes". One would think it would be fair play, then...if Duke adopted the "Duquesne's" as their moniker...but as we know, with Grayson Allen on board, fair play is hardly in the Duke vocabulary. Or, maybe this "Dukes" thing is a tribute to Bo, Luke, Cooter and the rest of the crew from the late 70's - early 80's television show THE DUKES OF HAZZARD.

Duquesne sent their duchess contingent to Louisville Tuesday and they got "duked" by the Louisville Lacrosse team 15-6 yesterday. A win that looks great on paper but wasn't that phenomenal...according to coach Kellie Young: 

"We could have won this game 8-2 and I would have been very happy if we had followed our game plan. We kind of get distressed, get frustrated and then get emotional and make bad decisions. We have to stay invested in the game for 60 minutes at a time. We have to understand the scout, play the scout and stay within the system. I know it's crazy to be frustrated...but we are trying to hold our team to a higher standard and we're trying to do great things this season." 

One thing that was pretty awesome, if not downright great, was the multiplicity of scorers yesterday for the Lax gals. Jillian Balog got the first net-finder, Meghan Siverson and McKayla Conti received feeds from Madison Hoover and it was 3-0 Cards early. Taylor Webster dove into the scoring pool next and this one looked like it might be a runaway blowout early. 

The Dukes, though...with no assist from Roscoe P. Coltraine or Daisy Mae...struck back with two consecutive scores and it was a 4-2 contest with six minutes until the half. Elise Koehl acheived net success, Conti poured in another and Balog blogged about her second score to close the half.

It was 7-2 Louisville at the break and Hannah Koloski hadn't scored yet. What separate reality and far-away universe had I been transported to? 

Hannah opened the second half with a tally, alleviating my fears that I wasn't at the "Ellis"...it was the first of five straight for the Birds...Ashley Lynch, Allison Ferrara, Koehl again, and Siverson's second score set the margin at 12-2. 

(People ask me why I call the Lacrosse stadium "the Ellis" . It's because the initials L.L.S. sound like "ellis" when you roll them off your tongue. Or maybe it's in tribute to long-time Cardinal sports orthopedic surgeon Rudy Ellis. I haven't quite decided yet...maybe I could be thinking of my basketball buddy Ellis Blanton?) Or all of the above...Plus, it's positioned right cross from soccer's "Palace"...Lynn Stadium. 

The Dukes fired up the General Lee one more time and ran off three straight scores from Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and JoAnne P. McCallie to make it 12-5. I missed most of those...engaged in a conversation with WDRB reporter Stephan Johnson about the tragic shooting at the Tim Faulkner Gallery over the weekend  and the connection to the Louisville lacrosse program. Savannah Walker, who was a Louisville student and played club ball for the Louisville Club Team program died in the incident. Yellow ribbons were distributed at the game and a moment of silence took place before the contest. Johnson was there to do a story on the connection.

I also spent time explaining the basics of Lacrosse to Johnson and we discussed

why there weren't any players from Louisville on the Cards roster. The Cards recruit the hotbeds of high school lacrosse...Maryland and New Jersey....14 of Louisville's 27 players are from those two states. 

Backup goalie Lexie Ball took the field for the final 9:37 of the game for UofL. She allowed just one score and the Cards got goals from Julia Schmucker (which allowed me to use the phrase "Schmucker stuck'er in the net!) and second scores from Webster and Koloski to end the game in Louisville's favor 15-6. Ball's going to be a good one, continuing the strong tradition that current starter Brittany Read has established. 

Louisville heads to Evanston, IL to face rival Northwestern on Sunday. If the past holds any pitch here...it'll rain and it'll be a tight contest. 

THEY SAID IT

Post game interviews below. We got an airplane involved, but no sirens nor trains. 

Thanks to THE CARDINAL Sports editor Dalton Ray for helping me formulate the questions for Young and McNamara. A man who's beard puts mine to shame. Standing together, we probably look like a couple of roadies from the Grateful Dead tour to the unsuspecting.



KELLIE YOUNG DISCUSSES THE WIN

STEPH MCNAMARA REVIEWS THE CONTEST



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BEARS AHEAD!

The Louisville women's basketball team is in the Sweet Sixteen and travels today to Oklahoma City to face #1 seed in the region...the Baylor Bears...Friday night...somewhere around 9:30 p.m. 

As a reader has commented...and I agree with...I am surprised there is no send-off pep rally for the Cards before they head to O.K.C.

Or maybe I'm not. The WBB Cards have one horrible marketing program. Coach Walz and the players deserve better than this. I've seen way better at significantly smaller schools. Combine that with their media relations fails and maybe it isn't any wonder that only 5800 showed up for the 1st and 2nd rounds. I've seen dog racing get more publicity and media assistance. But, their egos are definitely top-five ranked....OK, back to the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports. Excuse the diversion. 

As much as I wish I was going to be there, unfortunately financial situations and health are going to dictate that I watch this one in Louisville. We looked good financially at CARDINAL COUPLE going into January...but a few unforeseen expenses, road trips to Martin, Nashville, Murfreesboro and the ACC Tournament...plus donations literally non-existent since January have put us on a tight-rope in order to get through the year with any bank account balance at all. As far as a personal financing by me for the trip...no bucks there either. 

Sadly, my knees are getting worse, hip still degenerating and the tendinitis in my IT bands have reached new levels of tightness and making it hard to do steps or any long walking distances. Driving 11 hours is out of the question currently as well. Anyone willing to drop $1000 in the coffers or transplant this brain into a new body, please step forward now. 

(Thanks for cheering us all up, Paulie...) 

I love the call on radio that Nick Curran and A.J. provide. There have been many a road game this season where I've abandoned the video feed and retreated to my porch to listen to the call and "beverage".  Good times...

Kim Mulkey also power-lifts players...isn't that special?

Jeff Walz and his WBB squad will face a tough bunch of Bears in Oklahoma. We'll get into a more descriptive breakdown and analysis in Friday's column...but we'll start with the 86-46 dismantling of another bunch of bears...the California Golden variety...to reach the Sweet Sixteen. 

Lindsay Gottlieb, Cal head coach, says this: 

"They have a darn good team. I know they have to go to Oklahoma City first...but I think they have a great chance to be playing in Dallas." 

A keen eye there, Coach G. Sequential order is of importance in any accurate dissertation this time of year...

Kalani Brown, Nina Davis, Natalie Chou, Kristy Wallace, Lauren Cox. The deadly Alexis factor...Alexis Prince and Alexis Jones. This magnificent seven, along with a little help from their friends...has complied a 32-3 record. UConn early, Texas late in the regular season pinned losses on Mulkey's bunch. Improbable West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament knocked them off. 

Poor Texas Southern drew the misfortune of drawing them in the NCAA opener. 119-30 was that outcome. A forty-point drubbing of a Cal team that many questioned deserving an NCAA bid. 

But, they run into the mad genius of Jeff Walz next. We all remember 2013 in Okla. City. The biggest upset in women's college basketball. Wanna see that one? Click the link below: 

LINK: CARDS DEFEAT BAYLOR

Kim is also known for the screaming death stare

Difficult...but not impossible. Is this Baylor team as good as the one in 2013 that Louisville beat? Is this Louisville team as good as the 2013 version? Does it matter? 

Kim Mulkey. Such a shy and non-controversial soul...She's taken Baylor to nine straight Sweet Sixteen's. She has talent galore. She's played two less-than-impressive teams so far...how will the Bears handle a Cardinal squad with...perhaps...just as good, if not better talent? 

The Cards handled a tall and impressive Vols squad with defense, successful shooting and a strong finish. Louisville has faced their share of tough competition in Notre Dame, South Carolina, Maryland and Florida State...who are all still dancing. Asia Durr is putting up fantastic numbers, Myisha Hines-Allen the force in the paint, Mariya Moore has been re-born and exuding confidence and this Cardinal team is playing like a team and not just a bunch of All-Americans. 

We'll cover more on this match-up later. The shootout at the OK Corral. It should be a good one...


paulie
xxxxx 

Louisville Lacrosse opens today vs Marquette...Radio Today -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

#15 LACROSSE RETURNS FOUR TOP SCORERS AND SOLID DEFENSE

It might be a little chilly for the start of the 2016 Louisville Lacrosse season, but the LAX Cards look to get off to a red-hot start against the Marquette Golden Eagles today at 2 p.m. in the Louisville Lacrosse stadium...located on Floyd Street. 

A Louisville Lacrosse stadium that now has a press box. We are overjoyed and excited for the game (and the shelter...)


Head Louisville lacrosse coach Kellie Young returns top scorers Kaylin Morissette, Hannah Koloski, Cortnee Daley and Kelli Gerding...plus a solid returning defense lineup...headed up by juniors Steph McNamara and Emily Howell. If there is a question about this squad, it is in goal...where reserve Brittany Read replaces Ashley Peacock...who transferred to UMBC (University of Maryland-Baltimore County) in the off-season.

Read did see considerable action for the Cards in 2015 and Young describes her as "being more active inside the crease and has super-quick hands". 

Marquette comes off their second straight 5-12 season and participates in the BIG EAST. They return nine starters...headlined by defenders Elizabeth Goslee (All-BIG EAST Second Team in 2015) and Kayce Haverstick...who is definitely a nominee for Worldwide's All-Name team. 

Young expresses optimism about the campaign ahead. She revealed to CARDINAL COUPLE a couple of weeks ago: 

"We are more dynamic this year and we'll have a few players running behind the cage...like Gerding, Jillian Balag and Madison Hoover. They'll bring a different look to our offense and we expect to see more balance." 

We hope to see you out at the Stadium...admission to Louisville Lacrosse is free.

________________________________________________

RADIO TODAY

The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour airs today on WCHQ 100.9 FM and on the internet at www.crescenthillradio.com. We have a fine show planned for you...we'll review and preview UofL women's basketball, take a look at today's Lacrosse season opener against Marquette and play sound clips from hoops, softball and women's golf for you listening pleasure.

Covering the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports...it's what we do here on the site and on the air. Give us a listen!

paulie
xxxxx

Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Cards lead Canada to runner up finish in Lacrosse

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Foote, Morissette and Dzikewich fall to USA


Another coach that will probably be walking around on clouds on the UofL campus is head lacrosse coach Kellie Young. One former, one current and one soon to be player participated in the FIL (Federation of International Lacrosse) World Cup tournament, along with her assistant coach Cristi Foote.

The Canadians lost to USA in the title game 19-5.

Foote played at Notre Dame before taking the assistant job at Louisville, Janaye Dzikewich is a graduated senior and Kaylin Morissette will be a sophomore in the upcoming season. Stephanie McNamara is an incoming freshman who played for Australia in the Cup.

It was an impressive Cup for the Canadians. Team Canada captain Lindsey Svec saw it like this:

"Usually we're fighting our way into the bronze medal game and now we're going for the gold. There were tears. We're proud of the way we finished and obviously we would have liked to do a little better, but I think Canada lacrosse took a big step forward this week and we're excited about that."

Much like baseball is the USA's summer pastime, lacrosse has been the official summer game in Canada since
1994.

Lacrosse at Louisville is a "second semester" sport...which means they get the season underway in late winter. Coach Young has most of her starters back from last season and some very promising freshmen that are arriving on campus in a couple of weeks.

The roster looks to be possibly the strongest and most talented squad since Coach Young got lacrosse underway at Louisville seven years ago and if you haven't made it out to Louisville Lacrosse Stadium yet for the action, be sure to catch this squad in the upcoming season. Leading scorer Nikki Boltja returns...along with the fun, witty and talented Monica Negron...who can play attack. midfielder or defender. We featured Negron in one of our semi-serious, mostly goofy interviews on CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO a couple of weeks ago. She was a good sport and played along with Paulie's out-of-the-box questions

The Year of the Cardinal continues.

-Paulie

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