Field Hockey Ranked in Preseason Poll - WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Field Hockey Ranked in Preseason Poll

There was good news for UofL Field Hockey yesterday.  They were announced as the number 12 team in the NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coaches Association) Preseason Poll.  The tricky part is that every other ACC team was also named in the Top 25.

Reigning NCAA Champion North Carolina is the heavy favorite as preseason #1.  Duke is ranked 3rd and was the only other team that received first place votes.  Wake Forest is the other ACC team in the top 10 coming in at 10th.  Virginia and Boston College sandwich UofL at 11th and 13th, respectively.  Syracuse caps off the conference, coming in at 18th.

11 of the Cards' 18 opponents are ranked in the preseason Top 25 making for one of the toughest schedules in the country.  Coach Sowry has no fear when facing tough competition.  She also knows that a tough schedule and a strong RPI are crucial to make the NCAA Tournament.

This is the 65th straight week that UofL has been in the rankings.  They've reached as high as 8th.  At the end of last season the Cards were ranked 12th and somehow managed to get snubbed from the 18-team tournament.  If they can improve on the 13-6 record from a year ago they should have no problem getting around the politics and make the Big Dance for the 5th time in Sowry's nine years.

There was one major change to field hockey this year.  Instead of two 35-minute halves there are now four 15-minute quarters.  You might be thinking that the time doesn't add up but that's because the clock stops on penalty corners now, helping even the time back out.  One reason for the switch to quarters is to help with TV and the commercials. It also gives the coaches more chances for planning. More importantly, the four quarters are being instituted by the NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coaches Association) from FIH (Federation Internationale de Hockey) who switched to the quarter system for professional and high levels of hockey earlier this summer.

From most accounts and the chatter we've heard, the switch is getting approval from the players and coaches.  Coach Sowry likes the switch over and even some of the alumnae we interviewed recently approve of the change.

Louisville Field Hockey starts the regular season at home this Friday at 3:00 against Indiana.  They're also home on Sunday at noon against Massachusetts.  Admission is free.  Just be wary of the halftime water cannons at the half. .

In other scheduling notes, women's soccer (2-0) takes on Saint Louis tomorrow night at 7:30.  This game does require a ticket to enter.  Paulie will provide a preview on the 1-1 Billikens tomorrow.  Maybe he can also explain to us what a Billiken is?

Cardinal Couple coverage of the Cards vs. St. Louis match will be lessened by one, since Case Hoskins will be at a work function

Paulie will be reporting and watching from the press box and I'll be on the sidelines taking pictures and trying to refrain from illegal field participation while attempting to assist the ball girls.

Happy Wednesday and Go Cards!

Jared