Field Hockey Welcomes Five New Players to 2009 Team
February 05, 2009 | Field Hockey
Feb. 5, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville field hockey coach Pam Bustin has announced that five new players have committed to the Cardinal field hockey team. Haley Jurich, Lacey Jurich, Natasha Leickly, Amber Thomas and Lara Williams will compete for Team Cardinal in the 2009 season.
The Cardinals finished the 2008 season with a 14-7 overall record, including a 5-1 mark in the BIG EAST Conference en route to earning a share of their third straight regular season title. U of L spent the entire season in the NFHCA top 20, reaching as high as No. 11 and earning their second trip to the NCAA tournament.
"From Canada, through Ohio, and then stopping right here in Louisville, the University of Louisville field hockey program has found their future," said Bustin. "It is with pride and pleasure that Team Cardinal announces the incoming class of 2009. I am confident that this class will continue to move this program in the direction of a national championship".
Haley and Lacey Jurich, are the twin daughters of U of L's Vice President for Athletics Tom Jurich.
"We welcome the Jurich sisters to the Louisville Athletic Family," said Bustin. "Although they have literally grown up in Cardinal Country, they will soon wear the official, issued Louisville Cardinal game day uniform! I have watched both Haley and Lacey develop into NCAA Division I prospects since they picked up their first sticks in 1999! They, in turn, have witnessed this Cardinal program blossom into a national champion contender. We are thrilled that they are truly Louisville Cardinals from the heart and have chosen to hone their passion and talents with Team Cardinal."
2009 Louisville Field Hockey Recruiting Class
| Player | Pos. | Hometown (Previous School) |
| Haley Jurich | F/M | Louisville, Ky. (Christian Academy of Louisville) |
| Lacey Jurich | M | Louisville, Ky. (Christian Academy of Louisville) |
| Natasha Leickly | D | Gahanna, Ohio (Columbus Academy) |
| Lara Williams | GK | Louisville, Ky. (Ballard High School) |
| Amber Thomas | F | Duncan, British Columbia, Canada (Cowichan Secondary School) |
2009 Field Hockey Recruiting Class Profiles
| 2009 Field Hockey Recruiting Class Profiles | ||
 | Haley Jurich Louisville, Ky. (Christian Academy of Louisville) Haley Jurich, a forward/midfielder, is a four-year starter and 2008 team captain for Christian Academy of Louisville, where she was coached by former Team Cardinal standout Andrea Roussel. In 2008, she was a Kentucky All-State tournament team selection, named to the Kentucky Select first team and was a Miss Field Hockey Nominee. She also participated in the National Futures Tournament in 2004, 2006 and 2008 and was a member of the 2008 Futures Elite. She also played with the International Field Hockey Club of Kentucky and attended the National Hockey Festival, National Indoor Tournament and the Disney Showcase and participated in the 2006 Junior Olympics. Haley is also successful in the classroom as a four-year honor roll member. | |
 | Lacey Jurich Louisville, Ky. (Christian Academy of Louisville) Lacey Jurich, joins the Cardinals from Christian Academy of Louisville where she was coached by former Team Cardinal standout Andrea Roussel. The midfielder was a four-year starter and two-time team captain and MVP. In 2008, she was selected to the Kentucky All-State Tournament team, and the Kentucky Select All-State team. The two-time All-Jefferson County selection played in the National Futures Tournament and was recognized as a Futures Elite Athlete in 2008. Lacey has played with the International Field Hockey Club of Kentucky and attended the National Hockey Festival, National Indoor Tournament, the Disney Showcase and the 2006 Junior Olympics. She was also a member of the honor roll. | |
 | Natasha Leickly Gahanna, Ohio (Columbus Academy) Leickly, a defender from Gahanna, Ohio was a three-year starter and helped lead Columbus Academy to a state championship in 2006 and a runner-up finish in 2008. As a senior, the two-time first team All-Ohio State selection was the team MVP, a Penn Monto Regional All-American and the JJ Huddle Ohio Field Hockey Player of the Year. She participated in the National Futures Tournament from 2006-08 and also played in the 2007 Junior Olympics, where she helped her team win a Bronze Medal. Leickly was also a member of the 2008 Academic All-Ohio Team and the NFHCA High School National Academic Squad. | |
 | Lara Williams Louisville, Ky. (Ballard High School) Williams joins the Cardinals from Louisville's Ballard High School where she was a three-year starting goalkeeper and a two-time Penn Monto Regional All-American. As a senior, she was the team MVP, a 2008 Miss Field Hockey Nominee a Junior National Camp selection and was recognized as an Olympic Development Select Athlete with USA Field Hockey. In 2007, Williams participated in the Junior Olympics and was a Kentucky State All-Tournament and Kentucky Select first team member. She has played with the International Field Hockey Club of Kentucky from 2005-08 and has attended the National Hockey Festival, National Indoor Tournament and the Disney Showcase. Williams was also an AP Scholar in 2008. | |
 | Amber Thomas Duncan, British Columbia, Canada (Cowichan Secondary School) Amber Thomas, a forward from Duncan, British Columbia was a four-year starter for Cowichan Secondary School where she helped her team to the 2006 BC AAA High School runner-up finish. In 2007, she was the captain of the CanAm Challenge team and also captained her High Performance Zone Championship team, helping them earn a Bronze Medal. She participated in the 2007 Indoor Provincial Championship and helped lead her team to a silver medal and was the 2007 Indoor Sports Person of the Season and Swifts MVP. Thomas was the winner of the 2007 Vancouver Island Ladies League and Junior Achievement Award. She was also a member of the 2006 British Columbia Provincial U16 Team. Thomas has been successful in the classroom as member of the Academic Honor roll and Merit roll from 2004-07. Thomas played in both national tournaments her junior and senior years. As a senior, she led her team in goals and assists to help them to a silver medal. In the Junior National tournament the same team went undefeated to win the gold. She was also selected to the Canadian National development squad. | |
