2009 Field Hockey Schedule Released
June 03, 2009 | Field Hockey
June 3, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville head coach Pam Bustin has announced the release of the upcoming Field Hockey Schedule. The 2009 slate features nine home games and is highlighted by six teams that finished among National Field Hockey Association's top 10 - including three of the four NCAA semifinalists.
"The 2009 squad will be expected to come back ready to compete at NCAA Division I level as we will have game practice opportunities versus our alumnae on August 14 and then a scrimmage against Indiana - both to be played at Trager Stadium," said U of L head coach Pam Bustin.
"Team Cardinal again faces a great fall schedule that is designed to continuously elevate our level of play and hopefully provide postseason selection opportunities," said added Bustin. "We have a good balance of home and away contests which will force us to be comfortable bringing our `A' game on the road and inspire us to play our best at Trager Stadium."
After an alumnae game and a scrimmage against Indiana in August, the Cards will open the season in he Champions Challenge which will be hosted by 2008 NCAA semifinalist Duke Aug. 29-30. Louisville will be tested early as it takes on the host Blue Devils on the opening day. Michigan State and Delaware are also competing in the tournament. The following weekend, U of L will play host to Miami and Indiana.
Louisville goes back on the road Sep. 12-13 to face Missouri State and Saint Louis before returning to Trager Stadium for the Cards' conference opener against defending champion, and NCAA semifinalist Syracuse on Sept. 18. Michigan will also visit Trager Stadium for a non-conference matchup on Sept. 20.
The Cards return to BIG EAST action when they travel to Storrs, Conn., to meet the fifth-ranked Huskies on Sept. 26. The following weekend will bring conference Rutgers to Trager Stadium on Friday. Oct. 2. Louisville will close out the weekend against 10th ranked Michigan State on Sunday, Oct. 3.
League play continues with a trip to Villanova on Saturday Oct. 10, and the Cards following with a road trip to 14th ranked Ohio State the following Wednesday. Louisville will return to Trager Stadium for a three-game homestand. BIG EAST opponent Providence pays a visit on Friday, Oct. 16 and then the Cards will face 2008 NCAA runner-up Wake Forest on Sunday, Oct. 18. U of L will play its final home game on Thursday, Oct. 22 against Pacific.
The Cards will wrap up league play at Georgetown on Oct. 31 and will then travel to Maryland, where they will play Stanford on Nov. 1.
The BIG EAST Conference Championship will take place Nov. 7-8 at Providence College.
The Cardinals return 10 starters from the U of L 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.
