Field Hockey Inks Four
March 13, 2001 | Field Hockey
March 13, 2001
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville head field hockey coach Pam Bustin has announced that four student-athletes have signed their National Letters-of-Intent to continue their careers at U of L.
Suzanne Irwin, a Louisville native, played at Ballard High School, a 2000 state semi-finalist. As a forward, she led Ballard in assists. She was named to the 1999 HockeyPoint All-State Tournament First Team and was an All-Jefferson County selection in 1998 and 1999. In 1998, she was tabbed by the Louisville Voice Tribune as a "Sophomore to Watch."
Olivia Netzler, a forward from Marian College, Goulburn in New South Wales, Australia. She was a member of the 2000 Under-21 New South Wales State Hockey Team and a member of the 1998 and 1999 New South Wales Under-18 Hockey Squad. She received the Marian College Annual Award for Sporting Excellence in 1995 and 1997. In 1996, she was a member of the Souther New South Wales Under-16 Hockey team which competed in the Australia Wide Tournament.
"We look forward to developing both Olivia and Suzanne as dangerous forwards within our attacking system," said Bustin. "Olivia has experience playing the type of system we have been working on and Suzanne brings more speed and quickness to our upfield play."
Kimberly Hughes is a defender from Henley High School in Largs North, South Australia. Her high school team won the 2000 Telstra. She was vice captain of the Under-18 State Field Hockey Team and the runner-up Most Valuable Player of the South Australia Under-18 Indoor Hockey Team. Hughes is also a member of the South Australia Sydney Youth Olympics Hockey Team and was the captain of the 2000 Grange Royals, the Under-17, winners of the Smartplay Junior State Championships.
Jessica Schmidt, is a defender from Glenelg High School in Sykesville, Md., where she was a varsity captain on the 1999 and 2000 Regional Champion teams. She was a 1999 and 2000 First Team All-County selection. Schmidt was also a member of the 2000 American Indoor Champion Lady Glads field hockey team. Her accolades are not limited to field hockey, she was a 1999 indoor track state qualifier in hurdles and pole vault, and a 2000 state qualifier in pole vault, 100 meter hurdles and the 4 X 1 relay. She finished third in the 2000 County Pole Vault Championship and also placed third in the 11 meter hurdles at Regionals.
"Both Jessica and Kim have played most of their careers in the backfield and we foresee using their skills and experience with our defensive zone. Jessica brings a defender's mindset and heart to the game. We expect her game will adjust to the speed of Division I turf hockey quickly. Kim comes to Louisville with enthusiasm and vigor. Her defensive expertise will complement our team defensive organization nicely."
"We are very excited about our incoming freshman class," said Bustin. "With the graduation of only three seniors, we were selective with our recruiting decisions. We have been able to sign very talented student-athletes who excel in the classroom, as well as have enormous potential on the hockey field. The addition of this fine group of student-athletes just makes the anticipation of next season even greater."
U of L finished the 2000 season with a school record-setting 14 wins. The Cardinals finished third in the Mid-American Conference, advancing to the second round of the tournament for the first time since joining the conference in 1994.
