Dear Santa

THURSDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE

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-OUR WISH LIST for UofL women's sports programs.

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From the mailbag.

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Dear Santa:

We know it is kinda late to be getting this list to you. WE at Cardinal Couple have been very good this year, though (just ask us) and our wish list isn't for us, it is for the women's sports programs at the University of Louisville. Please find room for these on your sleigh and 'Ho-Ho The Mistletoe' .

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-For the Lady Cards basketball team, lots of wins in the BIG EAST and a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011. We'd like to see Shoni Schimmel continue with the high scoring and Monique Reid perfoming great off the bench. Give Jeff Walz all the recruits he is after, too.

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-For the volleyball team, the continued improvement of the young players like Emily and Lola and another BIG EAST Tournament title. Toss in a regular season title, too..if there's room. Make it possible for Coach Yelin to hold another trophy or two up in 2011.

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-For Cardinal Softball, pleasant surprises to replace the seniors, a slugger like Melissa Roth, pitcher like Kristen Wadwell and fleet outfielders and sure-handed infielders. A BIG EAST title would be great and a long run in the NCAA Tournament. Give Sandy Pearsall 4-5 players on the BIG EAST all-conference team and a couple of recruits that will become all-conference.

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-For Louisville field hockey, a great beginning in the first year for the new coach and wonderful seasons for Caitlin, Haley and Lacey and all the other "flock". Let's add another win over UConn and a chance to play in the Field Hockey Final Four. Make it that Justine Sowry isn't sorry she came to the 'Ville.

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- For all the other teams, please bring winning seasons, conference titles and post season tournament appearances. A MVP or two would be great and maybe a couple of National titles if you have room? Here's a poem for you, Santa about the other teams...

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Lacrosse without a single loss

Things keep growing for rowing.

Each golfer with a hole in one offer

Soccer plays when it isn't snowing.

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Tennis a menace every game, set and match

Swimming skimming every event in the pool.

Track and Field will yield couple of more titles.

And Cross Country continues to rule.

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Sincerely,

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CARDINAL COUPLE

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From the Mail Call:

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Bill the Goat ate almost all the e-mails and letters during the CARDINAL COUPLE Christmas Party...(we forgot to keep an eye on him)...but we did salvage this great e-mail from Louisville Field Hockey junior M/B Caitlin Collins. We had asked her how the players were handling the loss of head coach Pam Bustin to Duke. She replied:

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Hi, Mr. Sykes!

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Pam leaving definitely came as a surprise to our team. We were all very sad to hear the news but we were confident that everything was going to be alright. Pam is an incredible coach and every field hockey program wants her! All my teammates and I are very fortunate to have been coached by Pam.

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Our athletic department took the search for a new coach very seriously. They weren't settling for anyone who wasn't going to commit to our team and the University 100%.

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We were all very excited to hear about our new coach! We've heard nothing but wonderful things and we all look forward to working with her this spring! We're anxious to get to know the whole staff and work together to achieve nothing but excellence.

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Also, finding out that Abby (assistant coach Abbie Heird) would be staying at Louisville makes us even more excited. She brings so much to our team and we are fortunate to have her return.

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Have a great holiday!

Caitlin Collins

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Looks like "the flock" is in good shape and we know that they'll return next year as one of the teams to beat in BIG EAST play. Justine Sowry has a ton of talent returning. Some good ones coming in. The best facilities in college field hockey. Need we go on?

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We look forward to the Field Hockey blog this spring from Caitlin and the other women that make UofL Field Hockey the success it is.

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