Field Hockey Set to Defend Mid-American Conference Title

Nov. 2, 2004

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville field hockey team is set to defend its 2003 Mid-American Conference title as the Cardinals travel to Muncie, Ind., for the MAC Championship Nov. 4-6. The Cardinals will play the winner of Ohio and host Ball State on Friday, Nov. 5 at noon.

Louisville (10-9) went 8-2 in conference play, the best showing since joining the MAC in 1994. A 2-1 win over host Miami on Saturday clinched a share of the regular season crown. The Cardinals are co-champions with Kent State (10-7, 8-2) who defeated Central Michigan 2-1 Saturday to grab part of the title. Louisville defeated the Golden Flashes twice during the season, thus earning the top seed in the league tournament. U of L opened conference play with a 2-1 loss at Ball State on Sept. 24 and went on to win seven MAC games before falling to Ohio 3-2 on Oct. 23 in Athens, Ohio.

Sophomore Jessica Javelet (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) leads the team and the conference with 15 goals and 39 points. She also has a team-leading nine assists and is tied for second in the league in that category. Senior Suzanne Irwin (Louisville, Ky./Ballard HS) is second on the team with nine goals and five assists for a career-high 23 points. Freshman goalkeeper Marie-Claire Heller (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) carries a MAC-leading 1.90 goals against average and has picked up nine wins in the cage for the Cardinals.

"To have earned the top seed in the tournament is credit to this team," said U of L head coach Pam Bustin. "They have worked hard to improve throughout the regular season, and the results show that determination. Now that we are set for the tournament...all slates are cleared and a new season begins. To be able to compete in a conference tournament provides such a wonderful experience for the teams and provides the true competitor with another opportunity to take their game to a higher level. The MAC Tournament is always intense and definitely exciting. We look forward to getting out on the field on Friday!"

U of L won its first MAC regular season championship in 2002, but fell to Ohio in the second round of the tournament and missed going to the NCAA. In 2003, Louisville had a chance to finish first, but fell in a 1-0 overtime heartbreaker to Kent State in the season finale and settled for second place and the No. 2 seed in the tournament. U of L defeated Central Michigan 1-0 and Ohio 2-1 to win its first MAC tournament title and NCAA automatic bid.

Mid-American Conference Tournament Schedule:Thursday, Nov. 4 -Game 1: No. 4 Ohio vs. No. 5 Ball State - NoonGame 2: No. 3 Central Michigan vs. No. 6 Miami - 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 5 -Game 3: No. 1 Louisville vs. winner Game 1 - NoonGame 4: No. 2 Kent State vs. winner Game 2 - 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6Game 5: Championship Game - 1 p.m.

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University of Louisville Athletics

Field Hockey Set to Defend Mid-American Conference Title

Players Mentioned

Marie-Claire Heller

Suzanne Irwin

Jessica Javelet

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