Field Hockey Opens BIG EAST Conference Play Friday
September 20, 2007 | Field Hockey
Sept. 20, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 16th-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team will open BIG EAST Conference play against Syracuse on Friday, Sept. 21 at Trager Stadium at 3 p.m. The Cards will close out a four-game homestand against Saint Louis Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Cardinals (4-4) are led offensively by freshman Nicole Youman who has 11 points (4G, 2A). Seniors Allison Maffitt (4G, 2A) and Janelle Avila (4G, 2A) follow with 10 points each.
Last Up for the Cards
U of L is coming off of a 4-2 win over Vermont. Senior Janelle Avila scored two goals while senior Casey Diener and freshman Nicole Youman also scored to give Louisville a 4-0 halftime lead.
Prior to that game, the Cards fell to No. 15 Michigan 3-2. After being down 3-0 in the second half, Louisville scored two goals in the final eight minutes of the game.
Scouting Syracuse
The Orange (7-1, 1-0) is off to its best start since 1990. Syracuse, under first-year head coach Ange Bradley had a five-game winning streak snapped by Temple on Sept. 9. The Orange rebounded to open BIG EAST play with a 2-1 win over Rutgers and went on to defeat Hofstra 2-1. The Orange was ranked 20th in the NFHCA coaches poll last week, and is now receiving votes after the loss to Temple.
Gloria Nantulya leads the Orange in scoring with 15 points (7G, 1A) while Maggie Befort following closely with 14 points (6G, 2A).
Syracuse will play Saint Louis in a neutral game Saturday at 3 p.m. at Trager Stadium.
Scouting Saint Louis
The Billikens (2-6) are coming off of a 1-0 loss to Robert Morris. Prior to that, Saint Louis picked up a 1-0 win over Missouri State. Both of the Billiken wins have come courtesy of Missouri State - whom Louisville beat 5-0 earlier this season. Other common opponents include Michigan State - SLU lost 11-1, while Louisville openes the season with a 4-1 loss to the now-sixth-ranked Spartans. Saint Louis opened the season with a 3-0 loss to Vermont - Louisville is coming off of a 4-2 win over the Catamounts.
SLU is led offensively by Molly Boyne (3PTs, 1G, 1A).
Avila hitting the (record) books
Janelle Avila stands at second on the U of L career points list with 101. With her two goals in the game against Vermont, she became only the second Cardinal to accumulate 100 points or more in her career. 2006 graduate Jessica Javelet holds the all-time record with 176.
Avila also stands at third place in the with 37 career goals, placing her one behind Sherry Effinger second place tally of 38. Javelet holds the record with 69.
Avila also needs one more assist to tie for third on the school's career assist list. She currently has 27 feeds and needs one more to tie Lisa Wasser for third. Javelet holds the all-time mark with 38.
You've Gotta Play the Best
The Cardinals are in the midst of another tough schedule. Thus far, all four of Louisville's losses have come to teams ranked in the top 20 including: No. 3 Iowa, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 12 Michigan and No. 13 Duke. Still ahead are No. 4 Connecticut and No. 15 Virginia. Syracuse, Indiana, Villanova, Ohio State and Providence are also receiving votes in the coaches poll.
