Sunday Cardinal Couple - Lacrosse, Softball, Cheerleading and Dance

It's been quite the weekend of mixed results in varsity sports.  Fortunately, there are chances still alive to come out of the weekend ahead.  In the non-varsity world, things are bright and sunny.

Softball

Pearsall's squad dropped the 2nd game of the weekend series in Beantown 6-2 against Boston College.  The highlights of the game for the cards were an RBI by Morgan Meyer that brought Jenna Jordan home in the 4th inning, and an alas-too-little-too-late homer for Nicole Pufahl in the 7th.

Megan Hensley takes the loss with 5.1 innings of pitching, with Maryssa Becker taking over in the bottom of the 6th to get the Cards out of a rough inning, but the damage had been done.

In positive news, Jordan McNary has come back from the concussion protocol and is back in the lineup.  That helps the Cards maintain speed on the basepaths, and fielding of about 3 acres of space out in left field.  Nicole Pufahl continues her power tour through the ACC, and Morgan Meyer continues her evolution from a slapper to a solid, if perhaps not spectacular, hitter.

This game evens the series in Boston, and the Cards with "pahk the cah" for the rubbermatch today at noon.

Lacrosse

Coach Kellie Young was not happy with her team as the Lacrosse squad didn't follow the scout and let the defense cool against UNC standout Marie McCool who scored a whopping 7 times of the Tarheel's 15 in their 15-11 win.  While Young crediting her team with not giving up physically or mentally, continuing to attack and play hard into the final seconds of the game, but was mad, and that was her wording, at her team for not watching the film and following the scout that was particularly set up with a plan to deal with McCool.

The Cards raced out to a 4-1 lead in 7 minutes, at which point your intrepid reporter arrived, and the wheels fell off the bus.  OK, maybe it wasn't quite that dire, but it was clear that the momentum had shifted, UNC had settled in and was determined not to let this one get away from them, which is a big reason they're the #2 team in the country.

There was some back and forth scoring, with the Cards maintaining a 4 point lead until just under 7 minutes left to play when Meghan Siverson fired one home on a free position, and then UNC went on a tear.  For about the next 26 minutes of play, the last 6:46 of the first half, and the first 19:36 in the second, UNC would go on a 10-1 run to 8-13 with Marie McCool scoring all 7 of her goals during the run.  The Cards found themselves again with a Jillian Balog free position score, but the damage had been done.  The Cards would outscore the Tarheels 3-2 in the last 10 minutes of the game including a Hannah Koloski unassisted goal with 11 seconds left.

Brittany Read had 14 saves in goal to keep it from being a much worse outcome, and my subjective judgement was that the Cards should be glad the UNC attack wasn't more accurate as it seemed they took a lot of shots that weren't on frame...some wildly out of frame.

While I maintain that women's basketball is the worst officiated sport around, there were some questionable moment for the white and black stripes in this one.  Whistles stopped play at one point with an offsides call on UofL  (essentials of offsides for Lacrosse: at least 4 field players must remain behind the restraining line on each side of the field.  The restraining lines divide the field roughly into thirds), and there were clearly 5 players in Cardinals white standing in the middle third of the field (on a whistle, players stop where they are on the field as they must resume play from any infraction at the same location in general).  Even if you claim one of the players was beyond the restraining line and stepped back just as the whistle was blown, that still leaves the Cardinals in compliance, and only one player was even close to the line at the time.  OK, inadvertent whistles can happen, I get it, but they consulted about this call, with all of the players standing stock still where they could easily be counted, for about 2 minutes before finally overturning it.  What took so long, folks?  1-2-3-4-5, not even close to an offsides infraction, inadvertent whistle, restart play already.

Lacrosse hits the road next for an April 15th game at Virginia.

LINK: POST GAME KELLIE YOUNG

Cheerleading and Dance

We don't usually pay too much attention to the UofL spirit squads, one of the most successful sets of athletic teams at the University.  They aren't a varsity squad, they don't get scholarships, but they put in massive amounts of work, and if anyone wants to claim they aren't athletes, I'll be more than happy to go toe to toe with them in defense of the spirit squads.

Daytona is the annual convention and national competition for the NDA and NCA organizations with which UofL's spirit squads are associated.

Competing under the banner of the NCA, the National Cheerleader's Association, UofL has already claimed 2 wins, in the small co-ed, and all-girl competitions.  On the NDA, the National Dance Alliance, side of things, the Ladybirds won, again, the Hip Hop division, and the main Dance Team Performance division.

In the dance and cheer worlds, these victories are about as earth shattering news as the sun rose again today, but our spirit squads tend to not draw the attention that they probably should given just how amazingly good they are, so I wanted to be sure to mention their successes here.

JMcA

Accolades and Radio -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION GALORE FOR LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S SPORTS

Here at CARDINAL COUPLE, our mission statement is to report on the joy and excitement of Louisville women's sports. We did drift away from that in yesterday's column, but we're happy to return to it today with four very deserved and outstanding achievements. 



WORRELL RECEIVES HONDA SPORT AWARD FOR SWIMMING

The senior splasher from Mt. Holly, NJ adds to her impressive list by being named the swimmer of the year by The Collegiate Womens Sports Awards committee. A nine time All-American and ACC Swimmer of the Year in 2015 and 2016...Worrell was chosen for the honor from a group of over 1000 college sports administrators and is now in the running for Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Honda Cup. 

Her coach, Arthur Albiero, couldn't be prouder: 

"It is fitting for Kelsi to win the Honda award for swimming and diving. She earned her success through work ethic, a team-first attitude and a huge heart. During her four years at Louisville, she has captured our imaginations and allowed us to dream bigger as a program...she embodies the 'humble and hungry' approach that has impacted our swimming and diving program at all levels." 

The Honda Cup will be presented June 27th. in Los Angeles.


BRITTANY READ ON TEEWAARATON WATCH LIST 

Louisville Lacrosse's sophomore goalkeeper makes the list that determines the most valuable men and women's lacrosse player of the year. She was added to the watch list with three other college lacrosse players. Kaylin Morissette, the Cards hard-charging senior mid-fielder and draw control specialist was previously named to the list. 

Five men and women's finalist will be announced on May 12th and the winner in each category will be revealed on June 2nd in Washington, D.C.

Read, who is from Gibbsboro, NJ, is third in the nation with a save percentage of .541 and fifth in the nation with a 6.49 goals against average number.  

She and her teammates have posted a 12-1 record on the season and are ranked #5 in the nation. They will do battle today in Chapel Hill, NC at noon against #3 North Carolina, who sits atop the ACC standings with a 10-2, 4-0 record. 


SPIRIT GROUPS GET A HAT TRICK IN FIRST DAY OF CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS.

The Cardinal LadyBirds and Cheerleaders are nationally recognized at being the best in what they do and that bore out again yesterday when they took all three finals events in the NCA and NDA events at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center Bandshell.

The LadyBirds took the Dance Team competition over NC State with a awesome 9.75 score. In the Large Co-ed team events for the cheerleaders, Louisville finished #1 with a final grade of 97.20...downing runner-up Oklahoma State by almost three points. The All-Girl squad was also impressive with a victory over the OSU squad...taking the title 95.68 to 91.20. 

Louisville will compete in two more events today...Hip Hop for the LadyBirds and Small Co-ed for the cheer squad. 

Todd Sharp, Spirit Group Coordinator and LadyBirds coach was effusive in his praise for the results: 

" I am elated for all the amazing kids in our spirit program. They work so hard year around and to see them rewarded at the highest level is so satisfying." 


ALEX WILHARM WINS AVCA UNDER 30 AWARD

Louisville assistant volleyball coach Alex Wilharm is a hard guy to miss on the sidelines. The Iowa native stands around 6'5" or so and has a brilliant shock of red hair that complements his fiery and energetic pacing of the coaches area during events. 

He's also getting NCAA women's Volleyball recognition with the AVCA Under 30 Award. The award was created in 2009 to honor up and coming coaching talent in all levels of the sport. 

Wilharm arrived on the Cardinal's campus as a volunteer assistant in 2011 after graduating from Clarke College in Iowa, where he led his team to the national finals. After two years under Anne Kordes' tutelage he was promoted to assistant coach and has won the respect and admiration of Coach K: 

"He has proven he can make an impact in the gym, with recruiting and building relationships within our team and the university. He is a phenomenal representative of the University of Louisville Volleyball program and the athletic program. I also think he is one of the sharpest and youngest minds out there today and he is going to rise fast."


RADIO TODAY...WALZ INTERVIEW

We'll be on at 11 a.m. for another edition of The Cardinal COUPLE RADIO HOUR on WCHQ 100.9 FM and streaming live on the internet at: 

www.crescenthillradio.com


Today's format will be slightly different than normal...with WorldWide Jeff McAdams joining us live via phone from Louisville Spring Volleyball action. In the studio with Paulie will be Louisville Cardinal student newspaper sports editor and Cardinal Couple intern Sam Draut. 

A great show that will also feature the entire Jeff Walz interview Paulie recorded with Coach earlier in the week. We'll have lacrosse news and recap the Cards WBB season...as well as comments from the wide net action from Worldwide. 

We'll also discuss Louisville Softball today against Virginia Tech at Ulmer and keep in mind that the start of the game has been moved to 2 p.m. and they'll just play one today...with a doubleheader Sunday. 

It should be a grand time...tune in and sing along, won't you?

paulie
xxxxx

The dynasty of dance...Sara, Bria and Jude...No radio today...--Saturday CARDINAL COUPLE

UOFL LADYBIRDS DANCE TEAM, CHEER SQUAD TAKE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

As my esteemed (or steamed) colleague Worldwide pointed out to me recently, when dynasties in sports are mentioned...we should always take a look at what the UofL Dance Squad aka "The LadyBirds" have done.

They just won their 13th title in college dance team competition at Daytona Beach. 

Thirteen. That's more than Geno, UK, or Phil Jackson. 

Under the direction of Todd Sharp and Sheryl Knight, the squad is the epitome of title holders. Performing at UofL Athletic events...yes, we all watch spellbound when the LadyBirds take the floor or field. They are involved in a myriad of other activities as well. Visits to hospitals, holiday shopping trips with underprivileged childrens and many other civic and social functions in our community. 

Dazzling in dance, dedicated to community development and distributing high marks in the academic world...they practice as hard and dedicate themselves to the Louisville experience just as fully as a Sara Hammond, Katie George or Kaylin Morissette. 


"L's up" for the Ladybirds and also the UofL All-Girl Cheer Squad...who also took first place in Daytona Beach.

Check the LadyBirds out at the link below:



LADYBIRDS PERFORM IN KFC YUM! CENTER  

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SARA, BRIA, JUDE GETTING WNBA MENTION

DraftSite.com is a site that tracks and prognosticates on who will be names called at the WNBA Draft on April 16th in the Mohegan Sun Arena. They update the site almost every day, from what I understand. Thanks to a reader comment the other day, we know now that Sara Hammond, Jude Schimmel and Bria Smith are getting some attention and looks as potential WNBA players. 

Draftsite has Sara Hammond projected as the first pick in the third round and headed to Tulsa. Pick 32 in the third round is Bria Smith by Washington. The last pick (#36) is Jude Schimmel and Phoenix the destination. 

Very impressive for three Cards again this year to be getting mention after three last year were drafted. Asia Taylor was the last pick last year by the Minnesota Lynx and made the team. 

Other projections of interest:

-WKU's Chastity Gooch is #34 and projected to Atlanta.

-Ally Malott (the Dayton Destroyer) is #7 and LA is the guess

-Reshanda Gray and Brittany Boyd, the two Cal players that could never beat the Cards, are in the top 12.

-The top three projections? Jewell Loyd, Amanda Zahui B and Kaleena Mosqueda Lewis.

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HEY, MA...IS THE RADIO BROKE? 


There will be no CARDINAL COUPLE HOUR broadcast on WCHQ 100.9 FM or on the internet today.

Crescent Hill Radio is broadcasting the Mighty Kindness Festival live from the Waterfront so we got bumped. 

Play us or trade us.

(just kidding...we are happy to be associated with CHR. Paulie and Sonja may even wander down there today and check out the all-day music fest by the Ohio River)

paulie
xxxxx

Field Hockey Falls in Overtime to Ohio State

CARDINAL COUPLE THURSDAY REPORT

Field Hockey defeated by OSU 4-3

Kentucky visits tonight in women's soccer

Cheerleading...as a sport?

The University of Louisville Field Hockey team dropped a double overtime match to #12 Ohio State last night at Trager Stadium 4-3. Louisville started out strong with a ball control, driving goal from Hayley Turner but saw OSU tie the match minutes later when the Buckeyes capitalized on a penalty corner shot by Jena Cacciatore past Cards goalie Erin Conrad.

The team took the 1-1 tie into halftime. Louisville was outshooting the Buckeyes in the first stanza and it seemed only a matter of time before the Cards would break away. OSU, though, drew first blood in early in the second half on another corner score. The Cards got a corner score to tie the match when Nikki Auker smacked a rebound shot off OSU goalie Ally Tunitis halfway thru the second stanza. OSU responded quickly a couple of minutes later to regain the lead with a third penalty corner score and it took a late goal by Tuli Lim to deadlock the match.

Neither team found the net in the first overtime, despite strong offense from the Cards, who had three corner opportunities but couldn't capitalize. OSU was granted a corner attempt with a minute remaining in the first overtime but Conrad successfully stopped a Cacciatore shot to force the second sudden death.

Unfortunately, just a minute into the extra period...Berta Queralt took a midfield pass and smashed a long attempt into the back of the Cardinal net for the win.

UofL (3-2) hosts California next at 1 p.m. on Sunday. A tough loss in front of a good crowd last night for the Cards.

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Another "Battle of the Bluegrass" tonight..this time in women's soccer...when UK visits Cardinal Park to do battle with the Cards. #18 Louisville is 4-0 on the season, coming off a 4-1 win over Toledo last Friday. Kentucky enters the game unranked at 3-1...losing to Wake Forest in their last outing.

The Cats lead the overall series 8-4-1 and took a 1-0 victory over Louisville last year in Lexington. The game will be televised on the Fox Soccer Channel and action begins at 7 p.m. It's a "red out" game...Cardinal fans are asked to wear red (as if we'd wear anything else?) to the nationally televised event.

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WE enjoy watching our Cardinal cheerleaders in action at all sporting events and we're fortunate to have an up close view of them in the CRUNCH ZONE during football games. If USA CHEER has its way...cheerleading will be the next Title IX sport on college campuses. Competitive cheerleading is in their plans..in an effort to get competitions recognized by the NCAA. The sport would be named "stunt" and team acrobatics and tumbling would be part of the competition. They also want to make sure that the activities do not come at the expense of regular cheerleading. UofL's Todd Sharp's cheerleading squads seem to win the non-NCAA sponsored national cheerleading championship competitions every year..maybe it would be nice if they could also claim an NCAA Championship title trophy to stick in the UofL trophy cases.

We just have one question...if cheerleading becomes a sport, who will lead cheers for the cheerleaders? Maybe Coach Dan can get those baseball Cards out there to wave the pom poms...or Vic Anderson, Brandon Heath and the Cards' football guys can build pyramids and grab the megaphones...Personally, we'd pay admission to see Pitino lead Knowles, Siva, Jennings and Kuric in backflips and cartwheels on the sidelines...but we're not so sure we want to see these guys in cheerleading skirts...