ACC Awards -- Looking at Fall Sports Regular Seasons -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Happy Halloween! Today, we look at plenty of tricks and treats going on in the realm of Louisville women's sports.

ACC Awards

Field Hockey Places Three on All-ACC Teams

Louisville field hockey had three players named to the All-ACC Teams. Mia Duchars was named to the All-ACC First Team while Mia Emilia Kaczmarczyk and Julie Kouijzer were named to the All-ACC Second Team. You mean to tell me that players like Aimee Plumb and Merlijn van der Vegt didn't place? Get Out. That seems like a bunch of Hocus Pocus to me.

This is the first all-conference honor for Duchars, who was a crucial part of the defense while also playing a role with transitional offense. Duchars logged four assists and scored the game-winning goal in overtime at Boston College to close out the regular season.

Kaczmarczyk is having her best season of her five-year career with the Cards. The English native also earned her first all-conference honors while recording five goals and having two assists. Opposing defenses would get Goosebumps when Kazzy lined up for a shot.

Kouijzer has been the last line of defense for the Cards for several years, and has helped captain and direct the defense from her position. The defense allowed less than one goal per game this season. The Dutch native was also a force to be reckoned with on penalty corners, with three goals and three assists.

Louisville enters the ACC Tournament as the 3-seed and will face 6-seed Boston College today at 6:00 pm ET in Charlottesville. You can catch it on tv on ACC Network. Louisville has reached the ACC Finals before but has never won the title before. Will this year be The Shining moment for them?

Volleyball with Two Weekly Award Winners

Elle Glock was named ACC Setter of the Week. The redshirt sophomore tallied 64 assists over the weekend for an average of just over 10 assists per set. Her 34 assists and 10 digs against Florida State led to her first double-double of the season.

Elena Scott was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week. The junior libero 20 digs in the sweep over Florida State, her first 20+ dig match of the season. She had 13 more assists in the sweep over Miami. She added 10 assists and a pair of aces over the weekend. Scott is a Hellraiser for opposing offenses, who think they have an easy kill before she comes diving in at the last season with the dig.

The Cards have six regular season games left this season. They visit Georgia Tech this Friday. Ready or Not, the Cards are coming for you, Georgia Tech.

Louisville has advanced to two straight Final Fours and finished last season as National Runner-Up. Will this season be the season that UofL earns The Ring they have been chasing after?

Looking Back on Fall Sports Regular Seasons

Women's Soccer

For Louisville women's soccer, this season was certainly one to make you Scream. The Cards finished 4-9-5 this year with a 3-5-2 mark in conference play. It seemed like it was all a part of a Scary Movie. While it doesn't compare to Louisville men's basketball going 4-28 last season and starting the season on a nine-game losing a streak, a true Nightmare Before Christmas, this season's results don't bode well for a team full of talent.

UofL WSOC lost four games by one goal each. Turn those into draws or turn some of the five draws into wins and this season has a much better result. 9-4-5 looks world's better than 4-9-5. They did record a couple good wins over Pitt and Duke. Perhaps the Cards were in the hands of Malignant after battling several injuries.

We will be Conjuring up good vibes for next season. We do not know of any players that might be transferring out or in for the 2024 season.

After several years of failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, the Lynn Stadium offices probably feel like The Little Shop of Horrors as they figure out how to fix that for next year. 

Field Hockey

For the most part, Louisville field hockey had a strong season, going 13-5 on the year. However, a loss to Duke on Friday the 13th sparked a four-game losing streak towards the end of the season that turned a definite NCAA Tournament appearance into one that is a little bit more questionable. I still think their overall record and rpi should be enough to get in regardless of the results from the conference tournament.

So, who did the Cards call during their losing streak? Well, it wasn't the Ghostbusters. Justine Sowry got her team back to focusing on the basics and trying to loosen back up. It definitely felt like there was something Sinister afoot but Louisville bounced back with a win at Boston College to close out the regular season.

They now prepare for the ACC Tournament and hopefully the NCAA Tournament. IT is time to get the postseason started at 6:00 pm today. UofL is coming off a visit to Boston College where they snatched a win from the Jaws of defeat and now will Duel it out again tonight.

Volleyball

The volleyball regular season isn't over quite yet. With six games remaining, the Cards are 20-2 on the year and hold an 11-1 mark in conference play. You can't help but Smile at the 14 sweeps this year for Louisville, including those over rivals Kentucky and Pitt.

Even though Louisville's home arena isn't much bigger than The Cabin in the Woods or The Last House on the Left...the arena is regularly pushing capacity. They did break 12,000 at the KFC Yum! Center earlier this season and have had great numbers in all three appearances downtown. A rocking KFC Yum! Center crowd is enough to Haunt any opposing team's dreams. It is definitely the opposite of A Quiet Place.

Don't Look Now, but the Cards moved up to #3 in the latest AVCA rankings, sitting just behind Nebraska and Wisconsin. Pitt and Georgia Tech also sit in the top 10. The ACC has been Conjuring up strong volleyball programs for the last several years, with much of that credit going to when Louisville and Pitt joined the conference.

This year's Final Four is a bit of a distance for the Cards. No it's not all the way to Halloweentown, but Tampa still takes some time to get to. There is a good chance we see UofL there again this year.

We hope today's Halloween themed Cardinal Couple post wasn't so Sinister that you turned as pale as Casper like you Saw a Poltergeist. You Better Watch Out, as Trick 'r Treat-ers will be battling the cold and knocking on your door looking for the Candyman tonight.

Happy Halloween and Go Cards!

Jared

Hurricanes Swept by VolleyCards -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 AIKO, ANNA ALTER MIAMI'S PLANS WITH CARDS "W"

Miami Volleyball came into the LNFCU Sunday afternoon with a bit of purpose and plan. The Canes had won their last four ACC matches (GT, Syracuse, Boston College and Notre Dame) and were looking to upset the #4 Cardinals and climb a little closer toward the top spot in the conference. 

Instead. Louisville lowered the boom (not the moon) over Miami and soured the Canes afternoon with  25-19,25-19,25-20 sweep, in the LNFCU on campus. 

Miami is a good squad. Worthy of being ranked in the top 25...in my opinion...but not quite up to playing with Louisville-like skills and domination. 

Let's recap how the Cards did it.

SET ONE

Louisville began the match gangbusters and flew out to an early 6-1 edge. Sebastin the Ibus must have sent inspiration, though, from Charlottesville, where the Canes were playing football yesterday, and UM battled back to tie things at 11. "Enough of this nonsense!" Louie clearly chirped and UofL went on a  8-2 run to eliminate any chance of Miami pulling off an upset in the first set. PK and DeBeer made it 23-15 and a Charitie Luper kill ended it with the Cards putting up 25 to the Canes 19. 

SET TWO

Louisville jumped out to an early 4-1 dominance in the second set and Aiko Jones was the force behind three of the points with kills. Miami did find some continuity eventually and went on a three point run to even things up at 8-8, The Cards called on DeBeer, though and she was part of 4-0 run that helped make sure the Cards never trailed again. The Canes did manage to force a tie at 13-13, but Louisville awoke from their brief slumber and was ahead 19-15 as the teams got closer to 25. Jones and DeBeer made it 23-18. DeBeer ended it with an ace for the 25-19 final score. 

SET THREE

Miami would not give up the lead or let Louisville pull away in the final set for the longest time and, then, suddenly, it was Miami who took control of things with five straight points for a 13-10 lead over the Cards. Dani had seen enough and called a Cards timeout. She, Dan Meske and the coaching crew offered a few suggestions, the squad listened and they worked pretty well, Louisville responding with a 6-1 run to go up 16-14. Miami stopped the action to discuss that loss of lead and mustered enough in them to tie it at 17-17. PK and Anna were motivated enough by that Miami show of muscle to fire back and establish a 22-18 lead. Aiko delivered a kill to give the Cards a 24-20 lead and Luper ended set and match with a kill for the 25-20 win and three set sweep of match.

 

-- Louisville hit .258 for the match, while Miami struggled to get to .128. 

-- The Cards now head to Georgia Tech on Nov. 3rd and Clemson on Nov 5th.

-- Louisville and Pitt remain tied atop the conference at 11-1. The Cards are 20-2 overall and Pitt is 20-3. Just behind them in the ACC standings are Georgia Tech and Florida State at 10-2. 

(PHOTOS BY JARED ANDERSON)

paulie

Volleyball Set to Face Miami -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Cards Host Canes at 1PM

With the soccer and field hockey teams wrapping up their regular seasons, Louisville volleyball lays claim to Sundays for a few weeks. This afternoon, Louisville takes on Miami in a match with more at stake than it may seem. Miami haven't been world beaters this season, but a victory over Notre Dame on Friday moved the Canes to 8-3 in conference play. With Louisville at 10-1, a win by Miami would put them just one game back of Louisville, and one game back of the league lead if Pittsburgh were also to fall.

Louisville currently sits atop the league with Pitt (stop me if you've heard that before). Georgia Tech and FSU are tied for third (thanks to Louisville's sweep on Friday) at 9-2. Miami is alone at 8-3, and they'd very much like to not go down into the clutches of teams like Wake (7-4), NC State (6-5), and Duke (6-6). No other team in the league is better than 4-7. 

Miami has been curious this season. One of their conference losses is a five-set match against rival FSU. Their other two, though, came against Wake and Clemson. Similarly, they have a non-conference loss to then-ranked #1 Wisconsin. The Canes were swept in Madison, but they also lost five-set matches to Indiana and South Carolina. The close losses aren't the only thing this Miami team has to hang their hats on this season. While the non-conference slate was relatively unimpressive, Miami does have a win over Georgia Tech in conference play: a sweep on the road.

Despite winning their last two on the road, Miami's road record hasn't been great. The Canes are 3-4 in true road games with the losses to Wake and Clemson coming away from home. Louisville will have the home-court advantage, which is not insignificant in L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. Miami does have quite a bit of height, rostering 14 players 6'-0" or taller. Louisville has just ten such players, but the Cards' shorter players, particularly Charitie Luper, have shown plenty of ability to compensate for standing height with leaping ability. Miami is outblocking their opponents by just 0.05 blocks per set (2.119-2.069) while Louisville is averaging 2.3 blocks per set this season (0.6 better than their opponents). 

Volleyball had a ring ceremony for their runner-up
finish during Homecoming yesterday.

The serving game will be an interesting one to watch. Louisville has struggled at the service line, which is nothing new, but Miami hasn't been stellar either. Louisville averages 1.8 aces per set, which seems pretty good, but they're averaging 2.5 service errors per set. Miami is negative as well, but less so. The Canes hit 1.76 aces per set with just 2.16 errors. Where Louisville may be able to gain an advantage here is in serve receive. The Cards are allowing just 0.8 aces per set from opponents. Miami, on the other hand, gives up 1.39. If the Cards can avoid errors themselves, they should be able to take advantage of the Miami defense to win points while mitigating Miami's ace opportunities.

Critically, the Cards need to avoid overlooking Miami. Louisville gets GT next, which will be a critical matchup on the road. Fortunately, this is a Sunday match with the big match being on Friday. If the two were reversed, I would be more afraid of a "trap game" situation. With plenty of time to review film and prepare for Georgia Tech over the next week, Coach Dani Busboom Kelly should be able to keep the team focused on the task at hand this week. The match gets underway at 1PM on ACC Network Extra.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast

If you've been looking for the show, fear not; it has been posted. Due to some technical issues, we had a bit of a delay with the podcast. The episode was available via YouTube, but you can now find it anywhere you might wish to listen. There was plenty to discuss yesterday, so be sure to check it out. 

Cardinal Couple YouTube: Link

Anchor (podcast host): Link

Apple Podcasts: Link

Google Podcasts: Link

Overcast (free account required): Link

Pocket Casts (free account and app required): Link

RadioPublic: Link

Spotify: Link

Until next time, Go Cards!

Case

Field Hockey Goes Long, Volleyball Doesn't - Saturday Cardinal Couple

Field Hockey Wraps Regular Season

Field Hockey went to Chestnut Hill, and wrapped the regular season with a 2-1 win over Boston College in what proved to be a tough battle that the Cards really needed after several recent losses.

The game was a defensive battle for much of regulation, but Boston College finally broke through in the 53rd minute. The Cards would return the favor less than a minute later.  Jane Ramsey got her second goal of the season off the assist from Rylie Wollerton.

Neither team was able to produce any more offense, and regulation ended in a 1-1 tie.  The teams then sent diminished squads of seven players onto the turf for the 10 minute overtime period, similarly completing it without scoring.  Less than three minutes into the second overtime period, however, Louisville would get its 10th corner penalty attempt and after several passes around the circle would fire the shot home.  India Reed was initially, and on the live stream, credited with the goal, which would have been the first of the season for Louisville native, but later review credits the goal to Mia Duchars, with the assist to Aimee Plumb.

Up next for the Cards is the ACC Championship, hosted by UVA in Charlottesville, where they will be the three seed.  In the seven team tourney, that means they'll be playing the six seed which is...Boston College, so the Eagles won't have to wait long to try to even the score.  The tournament gets underway on Halloween, the 31st, and will wrap up on November 3rd.  The first game for UofL is in the 6pm slot on the 31st, and all of the games in the tournament will be on linear ACC Network, though of course, streaming is always an option as well.

In related news, UNC and Duke took the 1 and 2 seeds of the tournament, which is probably not much of a surprise to anyone, but UNC did it by beating Duke 2-1 to tie the standings in the conference and at the same time getting the tie breaker in the head to head.

Volleyball Sweeps Florida State

The Fighting DBKs hosted Florida State at LNFCU Arena last night, in a bout to partly break what was the then three way tie for the top spot in the standings in the ACC.  Louisville, FSU, and of course Pitt, were the three teams sitting atop the ACC.  Georgia Tech was close behind at 8-2.

Cara Cresse being dominant at the net

The Cards take the win, and remain in the even-steven atop the ACC leaderboard, 25-20, 25-22, 25-16 against a solid FSU team.  Louisville held FSU, one of the most efficient offenses in the country, to a mere .088 hitting.

A couple of unusual bits from FSU, coming onto the floor with a 6'1" libero is an unusual choice, though she did a fine job in the position, so I can't fault the coaching decision to go with such a tall defensive player.  Also, they consistently ran a 6-2 offense, which we've seen a little of from the Cards, but FSU ran it for the whole match.  My guess is that Kenna Phelan is considered the top setter on the team, but at a mere 5'7" she is likely just too much of a blocking liability.

Charitie Luper was a monster in defense,
including this chase almost to the bench.

Aiko Jones stepped up in a big way last night, with 13 kills at a .440 clip.  Cara Cresse was right alongside with 8 kills and .438 hitting.  Charitie Luper and Anna DeBeer also killed 8, but with rather lower percentages.  Luper arguably had a bigger impact on the match in defense, with nine digs, showing good results from a recent emphasis on defensive play.

Shout out, also, to Dan Meske for his first kill of the season, in the second set when an intruder scuttled out onto the court.  Meske stepped up to squish the bug and sweep it off the floor.  He even got a PA announcement for the kill.  Another moment of amusement in the second set, when Louisville won a point that included an overhead set by Elena Scott.  The FSU players initially were quite certain that Scott was partly standing in front of the 3-meter line and got FSU coach Chris Poole to bring out the challenge card.  While debating it, however, and starting to talk with the down ref about it, the players saw the replay on the scoreboard, saw that Scott had lifted her left leg that was in front of the line, leaving only her right leg in contact with the floor behind the line, making the overhead set legal for the libero.

Dan Meske, with the kill. Anna DeBeer points out
the scene of the crime. Kamden Schrand is less
than enthused.

Ultimately, the Cards had their way with FSU rather more easily than expected.  While the Sunshine state squad had several early head scratcher losses to teams like SMU, Auburn, and UCF, they have been playing good volleyball since starting conference play.

As for the other contender at the top of the ACC, Pitt had an easy win last night over Virginia Tech (25-13, 25-14, 25-14).

Elena Scott continuing to make her case for being
the top libero in the country.

Next up for Volleyball, the other Florida school in the ACC, Miami, comes to visit tomorrow after their Friday evening 4-set win over Notre Dame.

(Photos by Jared Anderson)

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast

Join us or the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast this morning at 11am.  Paulie and I will be on the call, and we think there's a chance that Daryl will be able to join us?  I'm hopeful.  Case and Jared are unavailable.  We'll cover the wrap-up of the Field Hockey regular season, the end of the soccer season, and Volleyball's continued play.  I'm looking forward to hearing, from Paulie, highlights of the WBB Tip-Off luncheon, which I was unable to attend.

Check out the live stream on Youtube on the Cardinal Couple channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@cardinalcouple2110

WSOC downs Duke 1-0 -- FH and VB plays today -- ACC BBall Preseason Accolades -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

FRIDAYS WITH DARYL


Hello all and welcome back to the weekend!

We are flying towards the holidays it seems and the fall sports schedule is winding down.  The WSOC Cardinals finished up their season last night at Lynn Stadium.  It was kind of warm fall evening, 73 degrees at 7:30pm.   

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween weekend!  Louisville hosts Duke doubly this weekend with the WSOC squad downing the Dukies last night let's hope that momentum continues as the football program is also in town for a Saturday matchup on the gridiron.  


WSOC

UofL 1 - Duke 0

It was an excellent night on the pitch as Emma Hiscock nailed her 2nd game winning goal of the season with the assist from Hayley Howard for a 1-0 win for Louisville win to close out the season. It was a cross kick to the right side of the net right past Duke's Leah Freeman.  

It was the first time in program history beating Duke and it also ended the Blue Devil's post season hopes. Heading into the match, the Cardinals were 0-4-5 all-time against Duke.

Despite finishing with 15 shots and 5 corners, the Blue Devils were not able to put one in the net behind Erynn Floyd.  Louisville finished with 6 shots, 2 on goal and zero corners.   Floyd had 2 saves and secured the victory for the Cardinals as the Dukies really pushed to find an equalizer down the stretch to salvage their season.   

Duke's Grace Watkins and Kat Rader each finished with 4 shots, Watkins had 2 on goal and as a team, they finished with just about their best opportunity to score all night when a shot crossed in front of the slashing Mia Minestrella, but she realized too late that the shot was definitely theirs to take.  I am glad they didn't  -- it allowed the Louisville squad a victory over a Top 25 squad to end the season.  

We will see what the off season brings for this program and likely discuss together this weekend.  Postseason ACC and NCAA Tournaments are out of the picture, personnel changes are a possibility. 

Field Hockey

#12 Louisville will take on #13 Boston College Friday at 2 p.m. in Newton, Mass.
It'll be available on the ACCNX

Louisville enters the weekend with a 12-5 record after a pair of losses to #13 Syracuse and Appalachian State. The Cards and the Eagles are tied for fourth in the league with 2-3 records against ACC foes. 

Louisville leads the series record 6-5  with BC winning the last meeting on Oct. 28, 2023 4-1 at Trager Stadium.  BC brings an 11-5 overall record and a four-game win streak into the weekend following a 3-2 overtime win against Wake Forest last Friday.

Margo Carlin leads the team and stands third in the ACC with 12 goals and has dished out eight assists for 32 points.  Caroline Kelly carries a 1.27 goals against average and a .765 save percentage.



Volleyball

#4 Cardinals host Florida State Friday at 7 p.m. at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena and it's available on the ACCNX. 

Florida State is 15-7 overall and 9-1 in the ACC this season. They registered two home wins over the weekend, with a 3-0  sweep over Boston College (25-17, 25-19, 25-18) on Friday followed by a 3-0 sweep over Syracuse (25-12, 26-24, 25-19) on Sunday. The Seminoles went to five sets but lost to #3 Florida and #11 Georgia Tech at the time. 

Outside hitter Audrey Koenig leads the team in kills with 251 on top of 187 digs, while middle blocker Kiari Robey has recorded 176 kills and 87 blocks.

Head coach Chris Poole is in his 16th season at the helm, ranking as the second-winningest active Division I coach. He has guided the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament in 13 of his 15 seasons, including 11 straight from 2009-2019.

SOFTBALL SCHEDULE CHANGE

The University of Louisville softball team will conclude its fall season with a doubleheader against Miami (Ohio) Friday at 7 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium. The fall finale was originally slated for Sunday, but was moved due to rain in the forecast. The event is free and open to the public.

ACC Pre-Season Accolades

Senior Olivia Cochran was named to the Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team while transfers Jayda Curry and Kiki Jefferson were both named to the Newcomer Watch List.

The Hokies finished with 45 of 61 first-place votes and 1,116 points. Notre Dame, which claimed last season’s ACC regular-season title, finished second with 14 first-place votes and 1,052 points. North Carolina and Louisville each claimed a first-place vote and finished third and fourth, respectively. 

THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR PODCAST

Saturday brings another edition of the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast. we know we'll be without Jared (in a wedding), Case (whereabouts sketchy) and maybe Daryl...but we'll still endeavor to bring you the joy and excitement off Louisville women's athletics.

11 a.m.  Go to:  https://www.youtube.com/@cardinalcouple2110/streams

As Always,

Go Cards 

~Daryl 

Soccer Wraps Up Season Tonight -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Soccer Concludes Regular Season Against Duke 

For Louisville women's soccer, their 2023 season will come to a close tonight against Duke. Regardless of the outcome, the Cards' season will end. Louisville is guaranteed to finish below .500 for the regular season, making them ineligible for an at-large bid. The ACC Tournament consists of the top six teams, from which Louisville has already been mathematically eliminated. The men's ACC Tournament has 10 teams so why does the women's tournament only get six teams? Stupid.

UofL enters the match 3-9-5 with their last win coming at the beginning of October. They boast a 2-5-2 conference record with those wins coming against Syracuse and Pitt.

#25 Duke is 6-6-3 this year but have struggled as of late. In their last five outings, the Blue Devils have gone 1-3-1. Florida State, North Caroline, Clemson, and Pitt have all been a part of that stretch, proving that conference play is brutal for all ACC teams.

Duke has been outscored 19-15 with most of the damage from opponents coming in 4-0 losses to Florida State and Stanford. A majority of the offensive output has come from Kat Rader, who has scored seven goals and two assists. Fix other Blue Devils players have logged one-two goals. Leah Freeman has been the primary goalkeeper this season with 46 saves and 19 goals allowed.

I will be out of town for a wedding rehearsal dinner but Paulie hopes to be there. Case may or may not be in attendance for this one. You can catch this one on ACC Network Extra at 6:00 pm.

We have heard whispers of folks hoping to see a new head coach next year. We have not heard of any plans for personnel changes in the offseason as of this time. As Paulie mentioned in yesterday's column, Coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes has been at the helm of the program since 2000 and is the program's all-time winningest coach with several NCAA Tournament appearances. The ACC has been a bit more of a battle than the Big East days though. We will see if Paulie and Coach KFD are able to catch up after the game.

Happy Thursday and Go Cards!

Jared

Does WSOC and FH End of Season Collapses signal changes are needed? -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 Women's Soccer, Field Hockey are a combined 1-9-1 in last eleven matches. 

If you read us often, you've probably surmised by now that we basically throw our efforts into covering three sports in the fall UofL women's sports seasons. women's soccer, field hockey and volleyball. We're fortunate in the fact that we've got a photographer in Jared Anderson who loves all three and gets us great pictures, and our five combined writers have a lot of expertise in covering these three sports. They also get pretty decent venues to watch the sports they cover -- Trager Stadium for Field Hockey is one of the best venues in the nation for the sport. Lynn Stadium has a wonderful pitch  excellent seating for the women's soccer squad to conduct  business and Volleyball has two spots to pack -- the LNFCU, a smaller home court and the massive KFC YUM! Center for the huger matches. Word gets to me that Volleyball is considering  even more matches held downtown next year at the KFC YUM! Center and the huge crowds that have been attending them there are an encouraging sign that more success is likely in crowd attendance if they schedule more wide net events there. 

Two of these fall sports are struggling lately with the end of the season collapses and more than one of you, our readers, have asked me some pretty pointed questions on whether changes are needed in coaching direction at the top. 

For one of these fall sports, Field Hockey, I don't think any change in leadership or coaching is called for or needs to happen. 12-5 (the squad's current record) would be hailed as an incredible season so far at a lot of schools and, let's not forget -- at 11-1 Field Hockey was considered a top five school.. Three of the last four losses have also come at the hand of schools that are top 10, year in and year out, in the sport. 

If anything, all Field Hockey needs is one or two juggernauts who can become offensive threats beside the Plumb sisters.  Just one goal a game over the last five games is unacceptable and taxes too unfairly one of the best defenses in the nation. Let's also not forget the the ACC is the toughest league in DI Field Hockey and the Cards didn't take any easy non-conference roads, scheduling wise, with three top 10 foes. 

Being ranked #12 in the NFCHA poll is maybe not as good as some Cardinals fans might have wanted, but there are a lot of schools who would gladly have their name next to that record.  The Flock just needs to figure out how to start winning more end of the season matches, and that can be solved by scoring more. Not as easy as it sounds, but it is a logical cure. The Cards are probably on the fence for the Field Hockey NCAA Championships, a good ACC Tournament performance is imperative, in my opinion.

So...you don't throw Justine Sowry down the steep steps that lead to her office. She's one of the best at what she does and a less than top ten season can happen now and then. Load up on the scorers, coach. 

 

For women's soccer, the road is a bit rockier. At 3-9-5, WSOC has disappointed against several foes that weren't given much of a chance to beat an ACC school. Losses to Xavier and Dayton and ties against Indiana State, NKU and Wyoming are head-scratching. Turn those into "W"'s and 8-7-2 doesn't look too bad, but changes are needed in player personnel and offensive firepower. 

The Kickin' Cards are being outscored 25-14 on the season.

Louisville Women's Soccer doesn't have anyone on the roster who has scored three goals this season. And, they have only five players who have started in all 17 games. 

The roster is fairly young, with 14 players either sophomores or freshmen., but those underclassmen need to stick around and continue to grow with the squad and not leave. And, thee will be some big names to replace after this season...with Ravin Alexander, Autumn Weeks and Morgan Bentley in their final seasons.

The answer is fairly obvious, but not an easy one to come up with. Find better scorers. Giving up 1.47 goals a game did not tank this squad this season, scoring less than a goal a game did. 

Coaching change? Maybe not, but, more experts "in the know" see it as inevitable. On a personal note, I know of few people who work harder with their rosters and game planning than Karen Ferguson Dayes. A legend, like Ferguson-Dayes is, should be allowed the decency and the respect of deciding when to step down. She's piloted this soccer program since 2000. She's had rough seasons before and always came back. I'm confident she will again. 

So, be patient, fall Cardinal women's sports fans in the WSOC and FH sectors. You are under good leadership and things will change for the better. Just remember...scoring=wins.

We'd like your thoughts on it, if you have them. Hit us up in the comments section.

paulie.

Vball Moves to #4 -- Soccer season Effectively Over -- Basketball ACC TipOff -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Volleyball Back in the Top Four

Louisville volleyball rejoined the top tier in the latest ACVA rankings, moving up a spot from fifth to fourth. The top four teams announced by the Selection Committee following the conclusion of the regular season are eligible to play host, allowing the Cards to play up to four more games at the KFC Yum! Center this year- the opening weekend plus the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, given the Cards were to win each prior round.

There is still much of the regular season left to be played so we won't concern ourselves too much with the current rankings. The Cards still have eight more regular season games to be played that include one more against ranked Pitt and two against ranked Georgia Tech. Next up on the schedule is Florida State, who continues to battle for a share of the ACC title at 9-1 in conference play but are 15-7 overall.

After winning a barn-burner at home over Wisconsin, Nebraska moved up to the #1 spot while the Badgers dropped down to #2. Stanford stayed put at #3. Texas rounds out the top five by coming in at the fifth spot.

Washington State suffered their third loss of the season and dropped down to #6. Pitt held the #7 spot. BYU and Oregon flip-flopped with the Cougars coming in at #8 and the Ducks at #9. Arkansas rounds out the top #10.

Notable Louisville opponents include #11 Georgia Tech, #13 Penn State, #15 Kentucky, and #18 Dayton.

Louisville is back in action this Friday against Florida State at L&N FCU Arena. You can catch it on the ACC Network Extra at 7:00 pm.

Women's Soccer Season Down to One Match

For Louisville women's soccer, their season will officially end this Thursday against Duke. The Cards are 3-9-5 overall and are 2-5-2 in the ACC. To be eligible for the NCAA Tournament, a team must have an overall record of .500 or better or must win their respect conference tournament.

The best Louisville can finish is 4-9-5, although, from an on paper standpoint, the Cards will most likely end up 3-10-5. Only the top six teams qualify for the ACC Tournament. Wake Forest is currently sixth with 13 points. The Cards have eight points heading into their final game.

Louisville is on pace for their worst season since 2009, a 5-11-1 (.324) season.

Basketball Heads to ACC WBB TipOff, Holds local TipOff

Louisville women's basketball is headed to Charlotte to participate in the ACC WBB Basketball TipOff. Jeff Walz, Merissah Russell, and Olivia Cochran will represent the Cards.

The event comes a day after the Louisville WBB TipOff Luncheon here in town for the Cards, which was open for fans to attend. Paulie and Sonya were in attendance for this one and he obtained a couple photos to share from longtime WBB fan Karen Nolan....taken at the event at the Grand Ballroom of the Galt House

We also hope to have some content at their media day next week at the Kueber Cerner on Floyd Street.

Louisville is coming off another Elite Eight appearance and are the only program in the country to appear in the last five Elite Eights. UofL opens the season at Cincinnati on November 6 at 6:00 pm. Their home opener is Sunday, Nov 12 against DePaul at 4:00 pm.

*basketball photos by Karen Nolan*

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!

Jared