Giant Killers strike again -- Louisville Field Hockey downs #4 Duke 2-1 --- Saturday Cardinal Couple

FIRST HALF SCORES ENOUGH...CARDS NUKE DUKE 2-1


The Giant Killers strike again.

For the second time in two weeks, Louisville Field Hockey has defeated a top five program in NCAA Field Hockey...knocking off #4 Duke 2-1 in a rainy Trager Stadium Friday night. The Cards win streak on the home turf increases to 15 straight on an evening where ESPN3 was on hand to chronicle another upset dealt out by Justine Sowry's stick swingers. 

Louisville started out in a defensive struggle with the Blue Demons for the first 12 minutes before Erin McCrudden returned a missed Alyssa Voelmle shot into the net on a penalty corner play. It was McCrudden's first score of the season.

Sowry and Bustin enjoy a pre game chat

Three minutes later, the Cards capitalized on another penalty corner attempt...Chile Garcia getting the feed from Paige Monson and Mallory Mason to put the Cards up 2-0 with 20 minutes left in the first half. Louisville's defense held strong to put the Cards in the locker room with the two goal advantage. 

Duke came out strong in the final half...getting off two shots and a penalty corner attempt in the first 10 minutes. They cut the UofL lead to 2-1 when Martine Chichizola took one into the circle and fired one past goalie Sydney King.

Mallory Mason and Alyssa Voelmle celebrate the win

It would be the last the the Blue Devils were heard from, though...Louisville's defense holding strong and King closing the net with six saves for the game. 

Things got a bit chippy near the end of the game...Alyssa Voelmle drawing a yellow card and sitting for five minutes. The Dookies could not capitalize on the player advantage, though...and Louisville goes to 9-2 and 3-1 in the ACC. 

Justine Sowry recaps the win:

The coaches exchange post game handshakes

"We were nervous in the beginning. I think both teams were a little jittery. As we started to get in a rhythm, we starte to play to our strength and our identity. It was a very impressive first half. In the second half, Duke came out really strong. They're a very good team, so we knew they would come out strong. It was a gritty win. We has to be disciplined and we're happy with the win." 

The Cards outshot Duke 11-10 but the visitors had a 8-6 edge in corners. 

The game also marked the return of former UofL Field Hockey coach Pam Bustin to Louisville for the first time. Four years ago, she probably never dreamed she would be back here playing and losing in an ACC match against her former assistant. 

The Cards return to the field Sunday for a 1 p.m. match against #15 Michigan. 

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CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO AIRS TODAY! 

Worldwide and Paulie will be back in the studio this morning at 11 a.m. for another exciting edition of CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO on Crescent Hill Radio. 

The lads will discuss the big Field Hockey win, Worldwide will offer Volleyball musings and women's soccer, cross country and other UofL women's sports will be on the docket as well. 

They probably won't discuss Paulie's colonoscopy...but you never know. It's a good thing they don't use a video feed...he has pictures. 

Link below:

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO IS ON THE AIR !!!!


paulie
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Louisville Field Hockey upsets #1 North Carolina -- Sunday Cardinal Couple

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- #14 Cards pull off upset over #1 UNC in Field Hockey

"Why not?" 

It's the final chant the Louisville Field Hockey team uses

when they break from a team huddle. When I predicted during a Wednesday interview with Coach Justine Sowry (available later today in the CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO archives) that the team would win 3-2 over UNC... it was her response.

Why not?

#14 Louisville downed #1 UNC 3-2 Saturday afternoon in front of over 600 screaming fans in Trager Stadium. Becca Maddock delivered the game-winning goal with five minutes left in the contest off a penalty corner assist from Alyssa Voelmle to break the tie. 

It was helter-skelter from that point on...UNC pulling their goalie to increase their offensive capabilities and try to tie the contest...but the Louisville defense held firm to preserve the win.

The biggest win in UofL Field Hockey history and in Justine Sowry's coaching career. The most noteworthy moment in 2014 UofL Fall Sports. 

Why not?

The teams engaged in a middle-of-the-field defensive struggle for the first half of the first half before the Cards drew a penalty corner and senior Mallory Mason...whose job it is to deliver the first inbounds shot on penalty corners...took a rebound off a missed Alyssa Voelmle shot and corralled the ball past UNC goalie Shannon Johnson for the first score of the game. 

Louisville's 1-0 lead would hold until the final ticks of the first half...another penalty corner attempt for the Cards and almost the same results....Mason scoring near the net...this time on a feed from Chili Garcia. 

2-0 Cards at the half. A huge upset in the making and a sense of guarded excitement from the UofL players and fans. UNC was simply too good to remain shut out and forward Charlotte Craddock scored two unassisted goals in the first two minutes of the final half to tie the game.

Nervous time? Yes, indeed...but the Cards regained their composure and tightened up on Craddock and the Tar Heels.

It looked like UNC had taken the lead with 17:35 remaining when Lauren Moyer slammed one home off a penalty corner attempt...but the goal was waved off since the ball has to leave the circle and come back in on a penalty corner. The ball never left the circle on this particular sequence so the score was disallowed and the Cards retained possession.

The defensive battle continued until Maddock's tie breaker...her fifth goal of the season. 

Statistic to know. The Cards received 5 penalty corners and scored on three of them. UNC received 4 and could not convert on any of them. 

Louisville (5-1) got a yeoman's effort from goalie Sydney King with two saves in the contest. The defense was spectacular in the fact that they allowed just four shots on goal by North Carolina...all in the final 35 minutes of play.

This is the first time that the Louisville Field Hockey program has defeated a #1 ranked opponent and the win also preserved the win streak at Trager...which is now 13 consecutive games. 

The win also shows the rest of the ACC Field Hockey conference and the nation that the Cards are a bonafide contender. The close loss to Virginia last week showed Louisville could compete in the strongest field hockey conference in collegiate athletics. Yesterday's win indicates the Cards just might have a chance in winning the ACC Conference.

Why not? 

paulie
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Monday Cardinal Couple -- Field Hockey, Soccer gain wins on Sunday

Nicole Woods scores winner for UofL against William & Mary

Louisville Field Hockey improved to 5-1 and gave Justine Sowry her 100th. win as a head coach with a 4-3 overtime win at William and Mary on Sunday. 

The Cards had trouble getting out of the gate in this one, falling behind 1-0 at the 18:00 mark of the game. The Tribe (1-5) would hold that lead into halftime.

Louisville finally scored seven minutes into the second half when senior Alyssa Voelmle connected on a penalty corner. W&M was not going down without a fight, though...and regained the advantage six minutes later.

The Cards evened it up at the 51 minute mark when Mallory Mason corralled  a Louisville missed shot on goal and pushed the orb in. UofL took their first lead of the contest when Voelmle recorded her second goal of the half on a penalty corner.

The Tribe knotted it at 3-3 with seven minutes left in regulation and it stay that way...forcing the extra session. Louisville was the sudden death session when Elisa "Chilly" Garcia found Nicole Woods with a pass and the Beverly, MA freshman slammed home the game winner. 

Louisville outshot the Tribe 15-9 and finished the four game road trip going 3-1. The Cards will host UNC in Trager on Sat. Sept 20th. @ 1 p.m.

Coach Sowry commented on the win: 

"Today was not pretty in the slightest. William & Mary was relentless in its work ethic, hustle and support for each other and we were not," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry who earned her 100th career victory. "Our first half was very disappointing where our ball carrier was isolated almost every time. We were sluggish and lazy in our effort and discipline all over the field. The good news is our second half was much improved and we started to play to our strengths. Again we have learned a ton this weekend from both an individual and team perspective. It was important to get the win today and we must continue to grow and improve. "


On a side note...it was great to see the Field Hockey squad

supporting the Louisville football team Saturday at Scott Stadium. Despite the heartbreaking loss to Virginia the night before, the girls seemed ready to go take the fight to The Tribe and we were able to talk a bit with Coach Sowry and a couple of players before we entered the stadium and start a preliminary investigation on why there was no limousine waiting to take me from the Waynesboro Best Western to the Field Hockey game in Charlottesville when I arrived on Friday afternoon.   


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Alison Price delivers game-winner for Women's Soccer


Meanwhile...back home in Louisville at Lynn Stadium, the Louisville women's soccer team overcame a 2-0 Kent State lead to beat the Golden Flashes in overtime 3-2. 

Down 2-0 at the half, Louisville used excellent defense some timely shots on goal to get back into this one. Kaela Dickermann scored her first goal just eight minutes into the second half. Isabella Habudu tied the contest with five minutes remaining. 

In the overtime session, Chinyelu Asher fed Alison Price for the game winner just two minutes into the extra session. Louisville outshot the Golden Flashes 22-4 in the contest.

The kickin' Cards return to action Friday night @ 7:30 to open the ACC schedule against Syracuse in Lynn. 

KFD talks about the win: 

"We had to get adjusted to a lot of new kids in our lineup," said head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes. "When we worked in practice on the defensive side of the ball, we were great defensively in games. Then when we worked on the attacking side of the ball, we were great offensively. I think the second half today was indicative of layering the both defending pieces with the attacking pieces. I think that's why we saw I think 17-0 (shots) in the second half."

paulie
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Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Field Hockey falls in double OT to Virginia

CARDS SUFFER FIRST LOSS OF THE YEAR TO VIRGINIA

A tough road loss Friday night in Charlottesville, VA. for Louisville field hockey...falling to the Virginia Cavaliers 3-2 in double overtime. Caleigh Foust scored on the Cards two minutes into the second overtime.

The Cards grabbed a 1-0 lead just five minutes into the contest when Alyssa Voelmle connected on a corner penalty. UVA tied it just three minutes later. The "Hoos" would score again in the first half and take a 2-1 lead at the end of 35 minutes of play.

Megan Anstotz tied it for Louisville 15 minutes into the second half on a feed from Voelmle. It stayed scoress for the next 37 minutes until Foust knocked home the winner.


Louisville (4-1) moves on to face William and Mary on Sunday.

"Our coaching staff is very proud of our team right now," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "At times the tempo was fast and furious and the momentum shifts were numerous. We played our hearts out and we kept persisting until the very end. We had chances to finish the game and unfortunately they were able to capitalize off a counter. "

About 250 people, including about 60 Louisville fans...showed up in pleasant 73 degree weather to witness the contest.


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Louisville Volleyball travelled to Morehead and won both matches on the day...knocking off #15 Arizona State 25-23, 25-13, 25-17 in the afternoon match. In the evening faceoff, the Cards downed host Morehead 25-17, 25-13, 25-16.

Northern Illinois is next up for the Cards...today at 2 p.m. Be sure to catch Worldwide's Sunday report on the goings-ons for Anne Kordes' squad this weekend.

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Hard times continue for the UofL women's soccer team...falling at Morehead 2-0 Friday night. At 2-4, the Cards will look to get back on the winning track when they entertain Kent State Sunday at Lynn Stadium.

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We'll be off the air today at CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO. Travel commitments for Worldwide and Paulie. Listen to our archived broadcast from last week at the top of the page.


paulie
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Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Volleyball takes two....Soccer falls to UK

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- UK scores late to down Cards in women's soccer

- Volleyball takes two in Active Ankle Challenge


LATE SCORES DOOM CARDS AGAINST CATS

The University of Louisville women's soccer team suffered a 2-0 heartbreaking loss to rival Kentucky on Sunday evening at Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium. The Cardinals fall to 2-2-0 on the season while Kentucky improves to 4-1-0.

"I think our team defending is exceptional," head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes said after the game. "We turn teams over and we get ourselves in good attacking chances, but then just can't finish the final piece of it. When I go back and look at the video, I imagine there are going to be a lot of younger players in those pivotal moments because we start and play so many younger kids. It's a great experience for them but at the end of the day when we're getting that many chances, we have to convert."

The Cardinals' first scoring chance came in the seventh minute of play when senior Erin Yenney received the ball on the left side of the goal before seeing her shot soar wide right of the goal. Louisville's first corner kick happened just one minute later, but the Cardinals were unable to capitalize on the chance.

Kentucky also had chances in the first half, the most threatening coming in the tenth minute when the Wildcats took a free kick outside of the box that soared high of the goal. Louisville goalkeeper Paige Brown was then forced to make the save when Kentucky took a shot from the end line that landed right in her hands.

Louisville had its best chance of the half in the 19th minute when Yenney received the ball at midfield and fed it to freshman Alison Price, who had her shot saved by the Kentucky keeper. The Cards' final chance of the half came when freshman Inger Katrine Bjerke took a free kick from just outside of the box, which was struck directly into the Kentucky defensive wall.

The two squads finished the half with four shots apiece, while Kentucky held a 3-1 corner kick advantage. Both Brown and Kentucky keeper Taylor Braun finished with one save in the half.

Yenney had another chance in the 50th minute when she beat her defender and took a straight shot on goal, but
 the Kentucky keeper once again made the save. Both Price and Freshman Isabella Habuda also had chances but were unable to score. Louisville's defense stepped up in the second half as the Kentucky pressure rose. A Kentucky attacker beat Brown in the 70th minute of play, but sophomore Caroline Kimble was there to record the defensive save.

Kentucky finally broke the scoreless tie in the 87th minute when Michaela Dooley scored off of Danielle Fitzgerald's assist. The Wildcats scored again about two minutes later on a fast break opportunity when Zoe Swift received a pass from Dooley in the backfield and buried the ball in the goal. The Cardinals had a flurry of chances toward the end of the game, but were unable to get on the board.

Louisville finished the game with a 12-11 shot advantage, while Kentucky led 5-2 in corner kick chances. Brown finished with one save for the Cardinals, while Braun finished with five for the Wildcats.

The Cardinals will play host to Miami (OH) this Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1:00 p.m. in Lynn Stadium.

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PLENTY OF STARS IN LOUISVILLE VOLLEYBALL SWEEP

Junior transfer Laura Blab had eight kills and four blocks to lead the No. 24-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team to a 25-11, 25-13, 25-20 win over Tennessee State in the opening match of the Active Ankle Challenge presented by The Galt House.

Cardinal Janelle Jenkins added seven kills. Juniors Roxanne McVey led the Cardinals with 11 digs, and Katie George totaled 26 assists. UofL ended with eight total team blocks with Jenkins adding three , while TSU tallied only two.

In the evening match...

Junior setter Katie George and sophomore outside hitter Maya McClendon had double-doubles to lead the No. 24-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team past the Cincinnati Bearcats 25-19, 25-16, 25-22 in the final match of the first day.

George finished with 37 assists and 16 digs while McClendon tallied 11 kills and 12 digs. Janelle Jenkins added 10 kills. Louisville totaled four aces and hit .252 for the match compared to .134 for Cincinnati.

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RADIO TODAY! 

We have a lot going on at CC Radio today at 11 a.m. on Crescent Hill Radio. THE FUNNY GUY himself JOHN MAUPIN drops by to catch us up on what's going on with him and also describe life in his own, unique and funny style. JEFF MCADAMS will be providing a live update from the Active Ankle Challenge as Louisville Volleyball takes on App. State.

We've got audio from coach JUSTINE SOWRY and field hockey star ALYSSA VOELMLE. PAULIE will also look at a potential BIG TIME WBB recruit that is announcing her college choice on Tuesday. DON PAULIE also stops in to visit.

It's jolly good fun and if you aren't careful, you just might learn a thing or two about UofL women's sports.

LINK BELOW:

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO IS ON THE AIR !! 



paulie
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Monday Cardinal Couple -- Happy Labor Day!

HAPPY LABOR DAY !!

- Field Hockey defeats New Hampshire 4-2

- Cardinal Football in the spotlight tonight

Sunday afternoon at Trager Stadium started out as almost a repeat of the Cards 11-2 win Friday over St. Louis. UofL scored three times in the first 15 minutes and necessitated a timeout from the Wildcat squad. That is where any type of common ground or similarities in the games stopped. New Hampshire vowed not to be Bird food. 

Ramping up the defensive pressure and adding a goal with 4 minutes left in the first half, New Hampshire shut the Cards out the remaining 20 minutes of the first half to trail 3-1.

The offense continued to be absent for the Cards in the second half...and a 30 minute defensive battle ensued before the Wildcats tacked on a second score with five minutes remaining in the contest. That tally had UofL head coach Justine Sowry asking for her own time out...to compose her squad and...by her own admission her and the coaching staff. The philosophy worked...the Cards shut down the N.H. offense the rest of the way and added a goal with no time remaining on a corner play that eventually got the ball to Alyssa Voelmle. She smacked home her second goal of the game to add a little icing on the Cards 4-2 victory cake. 

The Cards (2-0) embark on a four game road sweep next that will have them visiting Evanston, IL. to face Dartmouth and Northwestern and then to Virginia...where they'll face the Cavaliers and William and Mary. It is a  trek that will have them away from the friendly confines of Trager for 19 days before they return home to face ACC foe North Carolina.

Click below to hear Paulie's exclusive post-match interviews with head coach Justine Sowry and Alyssa Voelmle:

Coach Sowry breaks down the win


Alyssa Voelmle discusses the win with Paulie

1.	2:04	LOU	Alyssa Voelmle(1)	(unassisted)	off of a rebound from penalty corner shot
2.	6:19	LOU	Elisa Garcia (2)	(unassisted)	dribbled into circle shot from right side of cage
3.	14:35	LOU	Stephanie Byrne(1)	(unassisted)	dribbled in front of GK, shot from left of cage
4.	30:56	UNH	Nerbonne, Lindsey	Flatley, Meg; Joyce, Kellie	penalty corner goal
5.	64:27	UNH	Compagna, Emma	Giese, Chandler	shot from right side of circle into left side of cage
6.	70:00	LOU	Alyssa Voelmle(2)	Mallory Mason; Paige Monsen	penalty corner goal after time expired

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Certainly not one of the women's sports at UofL but one

that a lot of women's sports fans and athletes will be attending tonight is the Cards nationally televised football clash against Miami. Questions remain for this UofL football team. How well will they perform without All-World wide receiver DeVante Parker (injury) ? Has Bobby Petrino still got that flair for offense that won him a bucketful of games his first go-around here? How badly will the Cards miss explosive running back Michael Dyer (injury) ?  Is Will Gardner ready to replace the terrific Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback? And...the most pressing query of all...

How much did they raise beer prices?

Should be a fun one in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. We'll keep our eyes open for any recruits being shown Louisville Tailgaiting first hand and we promise to do no labor today other than turn the Italian Sausages on the grill.

 Tailgaiting...another indicator that fall sports are here.

paulie

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Friday Cardinal Couple -- Soccer wins-...Field Hockey @ Trager ...Volleyball in Dallas

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

***CARDINAL COUPLE SCOREBOARD***
UPDATE:

Field Hockey wins at a soggy Trager Field 2-1 over Temple! Overtime win after a weather delay! Much more on this in the Saturday CARDINAL COUPLE edition and on our radio show Saturday. 9-2 Field Hockey record now. Can I get a WOOO-HOOO??


- Women's Soccer downs SMU 4-2

- Another Battle of the Birds: Temple Field Hockey in town

- Volleyball travels to SMU


Charlyn Corral scored twice in Louisville's 4-2 win over AAC Conference foe SMU last night in Dallas.

The victory puts the Cards at 7-3-1 on the season and atop the conference with a 3-0 record.

SMU took the early lead on UofL scoring five minutes into the contest. The Cards roared back, though...getting a goal from Erin Yenney three minutes later on an 22 yd. blast. Louisville took the lead for good with 33 minutes left in the first half...Casey Whitfield assisting with a cross to Corral...who sent a worm-burner into the net to make it 2-1. WIth 10 minutes to go in the period, Katie Walz received a pass from Christine Exeter and sent one skyward to the top right corner to increase the Louisville lead by two. The half ended with the Cards holding a 3-1 advantage.

Louisville pushed the edge to 4-1 ten minutes into the final stanza...Corral getting another score on assists from Exeter and Caroline Kimble. SMU ended the scoring with fifteen minutes remaining.

Cardinal goalie Paige Brown had two saves on the night. UofL is on a three-game win streak and travels to Houston to face the Cougars on Sunday.

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#17 Louisville Field Hockey puts their for game win streak on the line tonight against the #18 Temple Owls. Start time is 6 p.m. in this important BIG EAST Conference match-up.

The Flock is one of three unbeaten teams in BIG EAST Conference play. Connecticut and Temple are also 2-0 atop the standings.

Temple enters (or is it enter the Temple?) with identical record as Justine Sowry's stick swingers...8-2 and on a five game win streak that has them outscoring the competition 18-4. The Cards will do well to contain the Owls Amber Youtz...who is tied for first in the BIG EAST and third nationally with 10 goals on the season.

Louisville's Alyssa Voelmle, the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week has seven goals on the year...Erin Schneidtmiller and Shannon Sloss have six each.

It's special edition UofL car magnet night...and free admission. Head on out to the Trager and root for UofL!

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Volleyball is in Dallas for their first ever meet up with the SMU Mustangs. Anne Kordes' squad (6-6) runs into a bunch of horses that have won three of their last four and sport a 8-5 record. They're also second in the AAC with a .237 hitting percentage and third in kills.

Louisville will look to Maya McClendon to continue the recent Freshman of the Week honors and performance she's been displaying on the hardwood. Louisville rides a four game winning streak in the Mustang's corral and was the only team in the AAC with two wins over opponents with winning records.

This one volleys up at 8 p.m. and you can catch all the exciting action on Crescent Hill Radio with Jeff McAdams, Timmy the Intern and Lola Arslanbeckova providing the call. ( JUST KIDDING...but we will have a full recap in the Saturday edition of Cardinal Couple and will review it on our Saturday radio show on CHR...)

-Paulie

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