Welcome to DI athletics Bellarmine! -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

WHAT DOES BELLARMINE'S ENTRY TO DI ATHLETICS MEAN TO UOFL WOMEN'S SPORTS?

Unless you've just come out of a coma or been recently returned to earth by an alien spacecraft, you're probably well aware the Bellarmine University is joining NCAA DI Athletics. The formal announcement will be made today (Tuesday) at 11:30 a.m. 

The Knights are joining the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and will become the tenth institution in that conference. Their conference mates are Florida Gulf Coast, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Lipscomb, NJIT (New Jersey Institute of Technology), North Alabama, North Florida and Stetson. 

Bellarmine leaves D II competition in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). 

Since we are a women's athletics fan site, I'll concentrate in today's article about the women's side of Bellarmine's athletics. 

Bellarmine currently has 10 women's athletic squads competing in D II and we would guess that all ten will carry over to the Atlantic Sun. Those sports are basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball. Bellarmine does not have a women's lacrosse team, maybe surprising...since men's lacrosse was the only DI competing program on campus prior to today's announcement. 

But, Louisville doesn't field a DI men's lacrosse program...so it'll be interesting to see if the Knights make the commitment to take on the sport (of if the Cards move to create a DI men's lacrosse squad.) In the ASUN, only four of the nine programs currently compete in WLAX (Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty and Stetson). Kent State, Howard and Coastal Carolina are "out-of-conference" squads who are in the seven-team alliance. 

The city of Louisville now matches Cincinnati with two D I college athletic programs. UC and Xavier have built up quite the rivalry over the years and one has to wonder if the same type of "cross-town" competition will develop between the Knights and Cards. 

Let's look at the ten women's sports that Louisville and Bellarmine both compete in and examine possible competition between the two schools. 

BASKETBALL 

"C.B." is now CW? 

--  It would be a tough task right off the bat for Chance Dugan's WBB squad to be included the Cards in their schedule. A profitable one, yes, for Bellarmine...if played at the YUM! Center and the two schools have played 12 times over the past 43 years. I have this vision of 10,000 Louisville fans trying to get into Knights Hall for a...well, never mind, that's not going to happen...

-- They last met in 1999 and Louisville holds a 10-2 record advantage. My guess is that Chance will want to recruit for DI a few years to build up an already impressive roster before inquiring about openings in Jeff Walz's schedule. 

-- Former Cardinal great Candyce (Bingham) Wheeler is an assistant coach for Bellarmine WBB. 

-- Jeff Walz has shown a willingness to play mid-majors over the years with games against Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State, Hartford, Houston Baptist, Chattanooga and Marist. The Cards have played ASUN member Liberty twice....the last time in 2009 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 

CROSS COUNTRY

There is previous interaction between Louisville and Bellarmine's women's cross country squads in the annual Greater Louisville Invitational and in several NCAA Regional events...so we see that continuing. 

FIELD HOCKEY

The ASUN doesn't have a Field Hockey conference of their own.  Liberty competes in the Big East. Whether Bellarmine decides to explore conference affiliation there or maybe with the MCA, CAA or other conference remains to be seen. Louisville Field Hockey regularly schedules mid-majors ( Miami, OH, Longwood, Kent State) so if Bellarmine goes for a DI conference, the thoughts here are that Justine Sowry would welcome a match against the Knights...

GOLF

Chancellor Dugan is BU's WBB head coach

The ASUN has a women's golf conference and six of the schools participate in it. Matches tend to be more of an invitational format these days...one would think that the Cards might extend an invitation to compete in the Cardinal Cup each year, and Louisville and Bellarmine could show up as contestants in other invitationals...as well as NCAA Regional qualifying events. 

SOCCER

All nine of the ASUN Conference schools compete in women's soccer, so we'll figure Bellarmine will, too. The Cards only get 7-8 non-conference matches a year, due to the heavy ACC commitments, but have played a wide variety of out-of-conference schools during Karen Ferguson Dayes time at Louisville. I could see an early season match between the two down the road. 

SOFTBALL

Few could "mow 'em down" like Maryssa Becker...

The Cards and Knights used to face each other regularly in the fall exhibition schedule and Louisville did play ASUN Conference member Lipscomb this year, so we like the idea of the two getting a yearly game or series started in the spring.

Add to the fact that Cardinal pitching ace Maryssa Becker is an assistant coach for Bellarmine. (Let's just be glad she's used up her eligibility...Cardinal batters might have a rough go of it against her.) 

SWIMMING

No official announcement yet or where Bellarmine swimmer will compete (the ASUN doesn't have a swimming conference) but the CCSA (Coastal College Sports Association) is likely. Three ASUN schools compete there already and the ASUN is one of the associations official partners. The chance of the Cards and Knights matching up in dual meet is always possible down the road but Bellarmine may want to wait a bit and get a solid core of DI athletes on roster first is my assumption. 

TENNIS

Possibilities exist here for dual matches (the Cards faced Northern Kentucky, Furman and Charleston Southern last year) and various regional invitationals and classics could include both schools. 

TRACK AND FIELD

A sport where matchups already exist. Bellarmine participates in the Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational each spring on the Belknap campus and at the Kentucky Invitational (along with Louisville) in April. We fully expect to see those interactions continue. 


VOLLEYBALL

All nine ASUN conference members play volleyball (they even play beach volleyball) so we'd expect Bellarmine to be the 10th team. The Cards like to have a couple of classics and in-season tournaments each year where they bring in multiple schools and I can see Bellarmine getting an invite to participate in one of those when space allows. The key, once again, is building a roster suited for DI instead of GLVC level competition. 


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So... welcome to DI, Bellarmine! We hope that this venture grows consistently and favorably.  A budding potential rivalry in many DI spots awaits you with Louisville and the Louisvillians who sponsor and support either or both school's athletic programs eagerly await "Knights vs. Cardinals" ! 

A step up to the next level of competition can take time. I hope that our readers will be supportive, encouraging and attend some Bellarmine women's athletic events in addition to your Cardinal support. I know some of you do already. I get to 2-3 Bellarmine WBB games a year and plan on upping that number.  I've watched Bellarmine Field Hockey, Soccer and Softball as well in the past. 

Join me and the CARDINAL COUPLE crew in welcoming our city's newest NCAA DI School and get out and spend "a few days and nights" with the Knights when you can.



paulie
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One is enough....Louisville Softball downs Syracuse 1-0 in ACC Quarterfinals -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

LONE RUN IN FIFTH CARRIES CARDS TO SEMI-FINALS

Louisville Softball got excellent pitching from Megan Hensley and Maryssa Becker and was able to piece together two singles and a throwing error on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fifth inning to defeat Syracuse 1-0 last night in ACC Tournament action. 

Hensley and Syracuse pitcher Anna-Marie Gatti engaged in a pitcher's duel for 4 1/2 innings before the Cards got the lone run. Louisville had threatened in the bottom of the fourth with runners on second and third and just one out...but a hard hit shot by Nicole Pufahl was converted into a double play to get the Orange out of the inning.


The top of the fifth provided Syracuse sith their best chance to reach the plate. The inning started with two outs but back-to-back singles sent Louisville head coach Sandy Pearsall at the circle to replace starting pitcher Hensley with Becker. She got the Cards out of the jam.

Jenna Jordan and Sidney Melton produced singles in the bottom of the fifth and speedy Jessica Adell came in to run for Jordan. A Brittany Sims infield grounder ended up with a throw to first that sailed past the Syracuse first baseman and Adell scampered home for what turned out to be the only run of the contest. 

Becker set the Orange down in order in the sixth and seventh innings to get the win for Louisville. The Cards had five hits in the contest...Melton providing two of them. 

Just who Louisville will play in the semifinals is yet to be determined. The final game of the evening between Notre Dame and Virginia Tech was stopped after an inning with a rain delay and eventually postponed until today at 10:30 a.m.

Whoever the opponent is, they'll face off at around 3:30 p.m. today. Fox Sports South will show all the games today.

In other ACC action, #1 seed Florida State knocked off #8 seed Pitt 8-0 in six innings and #5 seed North Carolina advanced with a 6-0 win over #4 Boston College. 

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LACROSSE FACES NORTHWESTERN TONIGHT

The Louisville Lacrosse squad enters NCAA Championship play with a 7 p.m. first round match against Northwestern tonight in South Bend, IN. The Cards are one of 26 teams that are in the LAX dance and one of seven from the ACC. 

ESPN 3 will show the match. 

The Cards handled the Wildcats 10-4 in the regular season at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium but Northwestern was responsible for putting Loucrosse out of the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Tournaments. 

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SYDNEY TO INDY

Syd Brackemyre has found a new home to continue her college basketball career and the former Card has landed a couple of hours away from the 'Ville at D II University of Indianapolis. 

The Greyhounds also have a new coach in Krystin Draybin. 

UofI went 10-20 last year...they return eight scholarship players from last season...none over 6'1". 

Indy plays in the Division II GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference) and so does Bellarmine...so there's a good chance Syd will be coming back to the Ville at least once before her college career ends. 

Good luck, Syd the Kid! Stay healthy and pursue your dream with passion. We'll keep an eye out for you in Knights Hall. 

paulie
xxxxx

Sunday Cardinal Couple --Newcomers impressive for Softball Cards

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Field Hockey routs Georgetown 8-1

-Softball sweeps two in exhibition

-Soccer, Volleyball live action today!


We worried a bit about Louisville Field Hockey's trip to Maryland to play Georgetown yesterday. Our worries were unfounded...as the Flock romped G'Town 8-1 to go 2-0 in BIG EAST play. 

It looks like everyone scored except me, Jeff and Jenny in the rout.

Louisville said hello to Hoya goalie Rosalie Nolan right after the National Anthem...scoring less than a minute into the contest when Shannon Sloss took a feed from Elisa Garcia and put the scoreboard operator to work early. That lead was increased later in the half when a Garcia penalty shot was deflected and sent into the net by Becca Maddock. The Cards headed to the locker room at half with the 2-0 advantage.

Georgetown actually drew first blood with a goal three minutes into final half play. It was the last anyone heard of the Hoya attack during the afternoon.

Alyssa Voelmle sent a pass to Paige Monson...who made it 3-1 Cards around the 50:00 minute mark. About a minute later, Maddock connected for her second score...on a Voelmle feed.

The Cards pushed it to 5-1 when Michelle Amon connected on a pass from Erin Schneidtmiller. 120 seconds after that, Kelsey Rosenmeier tallied her first score of the season. That was followed by a second goal from Amon. Victoria Stratton finished the Cardinal scoring on an assist from Megan Anstotz with three minutes left to set it at an 8-1 Cardinals.

Louisville (7-2) outshot the Hoyas 24-4. The eight goals in second highest in UofL history...the Cards defeated Central Michigan 10-0 back in 2010.

Coach Justine Sowry was pleased with the win but also offered a few words of schooling:

"We need to continue to work on our discipline both on and off the ball in order to complete a solid game. Our depth proved to be the difference maker today."

Louisville returns to action Oct. 1st with a non-conference matchup at Ohio State.

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Fall exhibition softball is off and running...the Cards taking two at Bellarmine Saturday.

Louisville 8 - Bellarmine 0

Slow start offensive in this one...the squads going through three innings and failing to send a runner all the way around the bags. The Cards broke through in the top of the fourth...Hannah Kiyohara reaching on an infield single and junior transfer Brittany Duncan singling. The freshmen went to work after that...Kristina Dillard singling home Kiyohara and Rachel Houck's single scoring Duncan.

Louisville added four more in the fifth. Jordan McNary, Katie (Killer) Keller were on when Taner Fowler's grounder was misplayed...scoring McNary. Kiyohara cleared the bases with a double to make it 5-0 and then scored on a Dillard single.

The Cards added the final two in the seventh. Fowler reached on a error and trotted home when freshman Tierra Sanabria sent one over the left field fence. Caralisa Connell got the win...going four innings, striking out eight and allowing just two hits. Sanabria relieved...striking out three and allowing a single in three innings of mop up.

Louisville 8 - EKU 1

Louisville wasted no time introducing themselves to the Colonels...popping for four in the first. Killer's double sent Kiyohara and McNary home and Duncan and Fowler hits drove in two more runs. 4-0 after one inning.

The Cards completed their scoring for the day with four runs in the second. Whitney Arion and Kiyohara singled to start the inning and Keller singled home Kiyohara. Duncan followed to the plate and blasted a three run shot over the center field fence to make it 8-0 UofL.

Rachel Le Coq got the start and allowed an unearned run and three hits in four innings. Freshman Maryssa Becker finished it for Louisville...allowing one hit in the final three innings.

The Cards play two again today...Bellarmine again at 11 a.m. and Tennessee State at 1 p.m.

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Other events in town have the Women's Soccer Cards hosting Rutgers at Cardinal Park at 1 p.m. and Volleyball returns to the KFC YUM! Center for a 2 p.m. match with Temple.

-Paulie

....

Juneau bows out of US Women's Open

Angel McCoughtry and Allison Bales try to contain Seimone Augustus of the Minnesota Lynx. The Dream lose a close one on the road 83-81.

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For senior Sara-Maude Juneau, the term close but no cigar might apply when it comes the the US Women's Open. She's been a participant in the event three times in her career but never made it to the final two days. Juneau fired a 75 and 71 to qualify for the event at Persimmon Woods (St. Louis, MO) but could only manage a opening day 79 and second round 81 at the Oakmont Country Club...missing the cut by ten strokes.

Juneau did make the third round back in 2007.

Sara-Maude is a key component for the 2010-11 UofL Ladies golf team. The squad qualified for the NCAA Regionals last season and the team should fare well in upcoming BIG EAST competition.

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A thriller last night between the Atlanta Dream and Minnesota Lynx in WNBA action. With the score tied at 81-81 and 30 seconds to go, the Dream's Erika de Souza missed a jumper from the paint and Lynx's Nicki Anosike grabbed the rebound and threaded a pass to Rebekka Bruson for the go-ahead layup with 7.2 seconds remaining.

The Dream's Angel McCoughtry saw a jumper roll out and de Souza's putback as time expired bounced off the rim and the Lynx escaped with the win,

McCoughtry led all scorers with 25 points and the Dream's de Souza added 18 points and 20 rebounds in the losing effort. The Dream went a woeful 1-18 from three point range.

Atlanta (14-6) still sits atop the Eastern Division and travels to Indy next for a Friday night game against Indiana. The game is the second of four straight on the road for the Dream.

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Word is circulating that Valley High School in southwestern Jefferson County may be the new home for a 3200 seat gymnasium. Original plans were to rebuild

the gym to seat 1600 but the school board is considering constructing a larger venue to host events like regional play instead of going to Bellarmine or the Gardens. Being a Valley grad, I have mixed feeling about the proposed expansion. Proud that my alma mater is getting a nice

upgrade but I also wonder if a facility like this shouldn't be constructed in a more central location for the 6th and 7th Region schools. It's a pretty far drive from places like Ballard or Eastern and it would make sense to put an enlarged facility like this somewhere more accessible to all the county high schools.

Nobody is asking me for my input...but Moore or Seneca would be better choices and there is plenty of room on both campuses for a expansion and they are much more centrally located.

If approved, construction could begin in late 2010 or early 2011.