Monday Cardinal Couple -- Soccer wins, Field Hockey falls on Sunday

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Soccer defeats DePaul

-Field Hockey loses in East Lansing to MSU

-Who's seeing who? 

Chalk up a win and a loss for UofL women's sports on Sunday...as the soccer team completed their weekend road trip with a 2-0 win at DePaul and field hockey loses in overtime to #19 Michigan State. We'll also look at some WBB visitors in today's edition of CARDINAL COUPLE. 

Holtz, Corral lead women's soccer to shutout

Louisville scored two first half goals against the DePaul Blue Demons and that was all they needed in a 2-0 win in Chicago against the BIG EAST foe on Sunday.

Courtney Holtz got the Cards on the board early in the contest, taking a feed from Charlyn Corral and finding the net just six minutes into the contest. It was her first goal of the season and the team-leading sixth assist of the year for Corral. 

UofL added an insurance goal in the 31st. minute of action when Corral was fed by Erin Yenney and hit paydirt. It was Corral's first score of the regular season and second assist of the year for Yenney. 

Goalkeeper Chloe Kiefer earned her fourth shutout of the season...an easy day for her with no shots-on-goal for the Blue Demons. 

"We played a much more complete game today and it allowed us to get a difficult win on the road. Our backs were much better and were more involved in our attack, which is why Courtney was able to score our first goal." -- Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes. 

The Cards improve to 6-2-0 on the season and 1-1-0 in the BIG EAST. They return home for two this weekend...Syracuse on Friday at 7 p.m. and St. John's on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Michigan State pulls out 2-1 win over Field Hockey

Louisville battled the Spartans gallantly for two periods and a sudden death overtime but MSU's Abby Barker scored her second goal of the afternoon with just five minutes remaining to give Michigan State a 2-1 win in the finals of the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational Sunday on the MSU campus.

Twenty minutes into the first half before either team scored in this match...Barker getting her first score of the day. The teams went into halftime with MSU holding that 1-0 advantage. 

Louisville tied the contest early in the second half when Haley Jurich provided Alyssa Voelme with a feed and she capitalized to tie the match. 

Senior Erin Conrad had five stops in the loss. Louisvlle drops to 5-3 on the year. 

"We had an opportunity to press Michigan State in overtime when we were a player up but we were unable to recognize and take advantage of the situation. We must now shift our focus to special situations and set plays as we prepare ourselves for our opening BIG EAST game on Friday." -- Louisville head coach Justine Sowry. 

The Cards face Georgetown at 6 p.m. in Trager Stadium on Friday. A great double header for Louisville fans on campus. Field Hockey followed by soccer. 

Visitor, visitor

The University of Louisville women's basketball team getting visits in with some pretty powerful 2013 recruits. Emmonie Henderson, Saniya Chong and Mercedes Russell all being courted by Jeff Walz and the UofL coaches, players and staff on campus or home visits. 

Three girls who will make an impact on any program they decide to align with. Three girls who have pared their lists down to include Louisville. 

Angel McCoughtry was also in Louisville on Saturday. No college eligibility left for the Olympian and WNBA star but a 2nd quarter apperance and introduction at the Louisville football game. Wearing her gold medal. 

She may have got the biggest cheer of the day from the 55,000 appreciative Cardinal fans in attendance. 

Think about that...Emmonie, Saniya and Mercedes. Coming back to Louisville after four fruitful years here.

Maybe with solid gold around your neck. Maybe making headlines in the WNBA. Getting love from 55,000 CARDINAL fans and making an apperance on national television. 

Cardinal fans appreciate, honor and love their women's athletes and Cardinal coaches are among the best, if not the best in college athletics. 

The best college sports town in America. Right here. 
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Monday Cardinal Couple -- Dyer aspires higher for Cards this year...Field Hockey gets first win.

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Epps commits to UK

-Shawnta Dyer looks to build on freshman debut

-Field Hockey bests Miami (OH) 3-1

CARDINAL COUPLE SPECIAL REPORT

It looks like Makayla Epps has committed to UK following her visit to the campus today. Epps is considered the best point guard in the 2013 Class in Kentucky and had previously verballed to Louisville. 

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( We've been previewing the UofL WBB squad the last couple of months and we've reached the sophomore class. First up for us, red-shirt sophomore forward Shawnta Dyer.) 

For Shawnta Dyer ( to borrow a line from Tom Petty) the waiting had to be the hardest part. Part of the heralded class of 2010, Dyer looked to be a freshman that could impact the Cardinal front line right off the bat and had a successful debut in the 2010 exhibition game against Indiana Wesleyan. 

Then, a fractured heel beset the Marion, OH star and brought an end to the season. A season of analyzing and critiquing certain areas of the game. Cheering from the sidelines as the Cards marched to the Sweet Sixteen. 

After a season of rehab and waiting, she returned to the 2011-12 Cardinal contingent and became the leading rebounder for UofL. An inside force that got plenty of chances to impact the Cardinal scoring and rebounding game inside with Monique Reid on the shelf for a year. 

Improvements for 2012-13? Dyer will tell you that she wants to become a better student of the game. That basketball isn't simply putting the ball in the basket, but strategizing and coming up with a game plan to outsmart the opponent. 

She's been busy over the summer working on her individual skills. Ball handling, jump shots, free throws. As part of a deep and experienced Cardinal squad, Dyer will be counted on to continue her inside scoring abilities and rebounding prowess on both ends of the court. 

Ask Shawnta about the team and you'll get this reply:

"We've been working hard this summer on our individual skills, taking classes and building on our team chemistry every chance we get. We are making improvements in the off season, not only to become better basketball players...but also to become better people." 

The 2012-13 season looks to be one where the Cards will make a huge run to dispose Notre Dame and Connecticut as front runners in the BIG EAST. Shawnta Dyer will be one of the prime components in an essential area...rebounding and inside scoring. 

Hoping to become an elementary teacher after her days as a Cardinal are finished, Dyer will be "schooling" opponents this season on the boards and in the paint. We think she'll continue to be at the head of the class. 

Dyer numbers

     Games played  Games Started Min. Rebs. Pts. PPG
2011-12    33              4               17.8  165  242   7.3

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Louisville Field Hockey captured their first win of the season Sunday with a 3-1 win over Miami (OH) in the consolation game of the Sherrill Brakemeier Classic at Trager Stadium. 

The Cards showed improvement in their passing, transferring and offensive attack...according to head coach Justine Sowry. 

UofL (1-1) opened the scoring in the first half when Erin Schneidtmiller netted her first goal of the season at the 9:22 mark. Louisville dominated the first half with a 12-0 advantage in shots. 

70 seconds into the second half, the Cards increased to lead to 2-0 when Becca Madock sent one past Miami goalie Sarah Mueller. Miami managed to cut the Cardinal lead in half a few minutes later, but Haley Jurich notched the Cards' third goal when she corralled a rebound from her first shot on goal and found success the second time around. 

Goalie Erin Conrad had two saves and Louisville outshot the RedHawks 20-6. 

The Cards take to the Trager Stadium turf again on Saturday when they host Davidson. They'll also face off against Ball State on Labor Day. Both are 2 p.m. starts.
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Field Hockey defeats MSU 2-1....Soccer loses in OT to Illinois 2-1

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Jurich goal gives Justine Sowry first win

-Cards take Illini to overtime before losing

-Central Cardinal Club 2011 Holiday Boutique

Louisville Field Hockey used a second half putback goal by Lacey Jurich to down #13 Michigan State last night in Trager Stadium 2-1. The Cards took the lead against the Spartans when goalkeeper Molly Cassidy deflected a Card attempt on goal midway thru the second half and Jurich knocked the loose ball past her for a 2-1 lead.

Louisville scored first in the tightly fought contest off a penalty corner. Freshman Dominique Pasqualichio slapped in an assist from Hayley Turner and Elizabeth Vance for the opening goal. That would be the extent of the scoring in the first half for either team. After the intermission, the Spartans tied the contest about seven minutes into action when Christy Coil snuck one by Cardinal goalie Erin Conrad.

Louisville (1-1) takes to the road for two in Carolina next...Saturday, Sept. 3rd. at Davidson and Sunday, Sept 4th. vs. #11 Wake Forest.

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Tough overtime loss Sunday afternoon in Cardinal Park for UofL women's soccer. Louisville and Illinois battled through regulation to a 1-1 tie before the fighting Illini found the back of the net five minutes into overtime.

The Cards struck first in regulation...Jordan Pawlik capitalizing on assists from Christine Exeter and Devyn Ciotti to score 23 minutes into the contest. They held that lead to halftime and most of the second half before Megan Pawloski slipped a kick past UofL goalie Chloe Kiefer in the 79th. minute of play. Illinois' Shayla Mutz fired the game winner past Kiefer minutes later in overtime.

Louisville women's soccer head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes was optimistic despite the defeat:

"In all honesty, I think we should have won the game because we had our chances to win in in 90 minutes but we didn't capitalize on two breakaways. Illinois is absolutely a great team. We should have scored a second goal in the first half and we had two more legit chances in the second half. Anytime you let a really good team hang around, they do exactly what Illinois did today. As upset as I am because it's a loss, I'm incredibly optimistic because of our effort."

Louisville will host the Courtyard by Marriott Classic Labor Day weekend at Cardinal Park. The Cards take on Baylor at 5 p.m. Friday and then Central Michigan Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
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The CENTRAL CARDINAL CLUB will hold their 2011 Holiday Boutique and Style Show Luncheon on Tuesday, November 15th. from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m. at the PNC Club in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Susan Sweeney will be the emcee. Fashions by Sunny Daize and Evolve Consignment and the models will be family and friends of the University of Louisville. Class Act Federal Credit Union signs on as a sponsor and here's the schedule of events:

-Lunch Buffet starting at 11:30 a.m. ($15 per person)
-Fashion show begins at 12:15 p.m.
-Dinner Buffet starting at 6 p.m. ($15 per person)
-Cash bar from 4:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m.

Some pretty impressive vendors are lined up for the gala event and there will be special guest appearances throughout the day. 

All proceeds from the Central Cardinal Club Event benefits the Cardinal Athletic Fund and UofL Student Athletics. You can call Linda Patton @ (502) 635-6088 or Debbie Zipperle @ (812) 280-0275 debzip@yahoo.com with questions.

Sounds like a great day...with a Silent Auction and tons of prizes and giveaways available! We'll see you there. We've also posted the information on the "left side of the site" so you won't forget.
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Haley Jurich with two goals in Field Hockey win...Sun beat the Dream

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE PRESENTS:

-First half fireworks set tone for Field Hockey win

-Sun defeat Dream in Connecticut

-Howard transfers to St. Catherine

The University of Louisville field hockey team returned to the friend confines of Trager Stadium and successfully held court against an Alumnae team Sunday 6-2. Justine Sowry's stick crew jumped out to an early 4-0 lead at halftime and was up 6-0 before a couple of late alumnae goals from Carrie Jackson Carden and Missy Briery.

Haley Jurich opened the scoring several minutes into the match, off a feed from Amber Thomas. Caitlin Collins got in the books a few minutes later, scoring on a rebound shot. Thomas became the third Cardinal to put up a point on an unassisted shot halfway thru the first half and Kaityn Soucy completed the first half scoring with an unassisted net finder.

The Cards built on the 4-0 lead when Haley Jurich converted on a rebound shot by Thomas and made it 6-0 by getting a goal from Dominique Pasqualichio off a penalty corner. The alumnae scored late in the contest, Missy Briery driving one into the net on a pass from Carden and Carden closing out the afternoon's scoring on a penalty corner with no time left on the clock. 

"I don't know what they ate this morning, but there were definitely a lot of positives today and hopefully we can take them into next weekend." Sowry spoke after the match. 

Louisville hosts California Friday and Michigan State Sunday to begin the regular season. Games start at 6 p.m. CARDINAL COUPLE will have reports on each. Louisville is picked to finish third in the BIG EAST...behind UConn and Syracuse.

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DeSouza's double/double not
enough for Atlanta Sunday.

The Connecticut Sun (17-10) ended a two game losing streak Sunday with a 96-87 win over the Atlanta Dream (13-13) at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Angel McCoughtry led the way for Atlanta with 22 points. Erika DeSouza finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, Lindsey Harding contributed 14 and Arminite Price added 12.

The Sun were led by Renee Montgomery's 21...Tina Charles and Asjha Jones tallied 18 each. Tan White had 11 of her 13 in the final quarter and Kara Lawson rounded out the Sun double-digit scoring with 11.

Atlanta is in 4th. place in the WNBA Eastern Conference, a game up on Chicago...who they'll face Tuesday night in Chi-town. There are eight games left on the regular season schedule for Angel and crew...four at home and four on the road. They need to finish at least fourth in the Eastern Division standings to reach the playoffs. Last year, they did just that and advanced to the WNBA Championships. TIme to rev it up, #35...

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Janae Howard lands at St. Catherine
Her third school in four years

CARDINAL COUPLE has learned that Janae Howard, a member of the 2009 UofL WBB Final Four Team, has transferred to St. Catherine College and will play hoops there in the 2011-12 season. Howard, an Kentucky High School All-State forward from Owensboro, came to the Cardinal Women's basketball team in 2008...along with Monique Reid and Becky Burke. She was a reserve on the team that faced UConn in the 2009 NCAA Women's Championship game. Janae transfered to Western Kentucky Univeristy after the season, sat out a year and was the leading scorer on the 2010-11 team until she quit after 22 games. She transfers to the NAIA school and will have two years of playing time left. St. Catherine plays Lindsey Wilson twice in the 2011-12 season. It'll be interesting to see how she matches up against former Card Ashley Rainey...the leading scorer on Lindsey Wilson's roster from last season.