UofL Field Hockey Preseaon Preview

As we mentioned yesterday, we are excited about the 2010 UofL field Hockey season and Pam Bustin has given CARDINAL COUPLE the lowdown on Cardinal Field Hockey. Seven words for ya...Gotta go see these girls this year!!!

Pam reports:

The UofL field hockey team for fall 2010 is already gearing up. Many of the players are participating in the USA High Performance Womens' National Championships this month. There are nine regions nationally that offer U.S. High Performance training sites and Louisville is the host of the Midwest site. UofL has players representing the Midwest, Pennsylvania and Mid Atlantic regions. Pam is the head coach for the Midwest and is looking forward to coaching this team which is comprised of the regions best collegiate and future stars. U.S. squad members are also part of the regional teams and the Midwest has four of these players...including 2008 Olympian Carrie Lingo. Representing Louisville will be Karah Hall, Tuli Lim, Rachel Hollenbach and Erin Conrad. This upcoming tournament helps select the various National teams. For more info on the championships, go to:

www.usfieldhockey.com

The 2010 UofL field hockey team welcomes back nine starters and will introduce ten freshmen to Cardinal fans. This mix of returning determination and youthful enthusiasm could lead to the best season in program history. After a self-confessed underacheiving 2009 campaign, the team has re-evaluated and looked within. With their honest assessments and taking personal responsibility for the performance of the team, the 2010 spring was extremely focused and productive.

Leading the charge this fall will be field captain Nicole Youmam (AUS) and vice-captains Jenna Ahern (PA) and Hayley Turner (AUS). The three will work together to lead by example and to guide this strong group toward a championship. Both Nicole and Hayley will be coming off play in Austrailia...and Jenna has been keeping the pace throughout her summer training here in Louisville.

Jenna will be joined in the backfield by Karah Wall (KY), Cait Collins (NY) and Natasha Leickly (OH). They'll be joined by redshirt sophomore Erin Conrad (PA), who will be in the goalcage. Erin has prepared over the last two years for this responsibility and has gained valuable experience through the team's recent matches in Argentina this March and in the USA High Performance competition.

Tull Lim (NC), Rachel Hollenbach (PA) and Turner return to midfield...which creates one of the toughest midfield threesomes in the country. The forward line features Youman, Nikki Auker (PA), Amber Thomas (CAN), Simone Attles (OH), Haley and Lacey Jurich (KY) and Heather Stevens (DE). They'll give the Cards the punch and versatility needed to be dangerous.

The 10 new Cardinals bring a wealth of talent, athleticism and a great competitive spirit to the program. Meghan Ziobro (VA) steps in to challenge Conrad for goalie. Dominique Pasqualichio (PA), Katie Flannery (PA), Sophie Engelkes (HOL) and Nikki Barry (PA) will most likely contribute and develop into key backfield players. Michelle Amon (KY) and Kelsey Rosenmeier (VA) will bolster the midfield and forward spots. Jacque Gerrick (PA), Elizabeth Vance (TX), and Erin Schneidtmiller (KY) will lend their goal scoring talents to the forward positions.

The upcoming schedule this fall is a challenging one. 10 out of the 19 opponents finished the in NCAA top 20. Princeton and Maryland were in the Final Four. The Big East is always a challenge and and Team Cardinal is looking forward to competing at a National Championship level every time they step on the turf.

We'll relay The Flock's schedule and full results in the upcoming months here at CARDINAL COUPLE. A special thanks to Pam for her comprehensive preseason report and amazing accomplishments as the head coach of the UofL Field Hockey program!

If you've never witnesses a field hockey match, you need to go watch the Cards play at state of the art Trager Field on campus. You'll be hooked.