And now...conference play...Can you Beat the Paulie? Thursday Cardinal Couple

CHALLENGES AND EXCITEMENT AHEAD

For Field Hockey, Women's Soccer and Volleyball...the pre-conference fine tuning and adjustments has run its course. This is ACC time now and the challenges that are in store for Justine Sowry, Karen Ferguson- Dayes and Anne Kordes will come fast and furious over the next two months. 

The first couple of test haven't gone so well for the trio. 

Field Hockey managed to move up a spot in the national rankings yesterday to #8 after a 1-1 weekend that delivered a loss to conference foe and #3 ranked UNC plus a shutout win over James Madison...who remained at #19. The stick-swingers under Sowry's tutelage have lost two games so this season. The other loss was to #4 Virginia is also has ACC on their uniforms.

That gauntlet of top opponents continues with #7 Wake Forest coming in for a Friday night visit. All seven ACC teams are in the top eleven in the rankings.


Women's soccer has one ACC tilt under their belt so far...a trip last weekend to Boston College where the Eagles flew past the Cardinals 2-0. The weekend will bring two ACC foes to "The Palace"...starting with Miami tonight. The 'Canes are 3-5 and 0-1 so far this season and -- along with UofL, NC State and Syracuse -- the only ACC teams that are under .500 so far this season.

After the "U", Louisville will try to tame the Pitt Panthers on Sunday in Lynn Stadium. Pitt has gotten off to a rocket start at 7-1-1 and 1-0 in the ACC. they'll come in looking to avenge a 1-0 loss that Louisville put on them last season.

Tonight's game is at 7 p.m. and the weather looks great fpr it. You should try and attend. 

Finally, Volleyball awaits their first ACC test tomorrow night when they travel to Sound Bend to face the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Be sure to read my "steamed" colleague Worldwide's Tuesday article for more on the Irish...but it looks as if they are in restart mode with a new coach and new players. 

And now the ill-fated Paulie Predictions

This is the first official week of these...but I can assure you my 5% success rate in calling contest outcomes took a hit when I went 0-3. Kentucky Volleyball, UNC Field Hockey and BC WSOC won. 

1. Louisville defeats Miami in women's soccer tonight. This could be a 1-0 affair. 

2. Louisville hands Wake Forest a loss in field hockey Friday night. I'll say 4-3 Cards...

3. Louisville finds their "lucky charms" in South Bend Friday and takes the Irish in straight sets for the "W". 

4. Pitt comes in Sunday and gets a win over women's soccer

You gotta a different take? Shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment. Those who defeat me will be entered in a drawing for a monthly Panera or Cracker Barrel Gift Card. Those who lose to me (and there will be plenty...oh, yes...) can buy me $2 beers on the flight deck at PJCS. 

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BEAT THE PAULIE

Each week Paulie will make fearless and foolish predictions on Louisville women's sports contests. Can you do better than him? Why not find out? Send a e-mail or leave a comment with your picks and defeat the Paulie to get your name in a drawing for a monthly Panera or Cracker Barrel gift Card! E-mail entries to:

BEAT THE PAULIE

paulsonyasykes@aol.com





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