Field Hockey Hosts Syracuse Friday
September 16, 2009 | Field Hockey
Sept. 16, 2009
The 16th-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team will open BIG EAST Conference play against No. 7 Syracuse Friday at 4 p.m. The Cards will close out the weekend by hosting Michigan Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Friday's game will also kick of the Cardinal Park 10th Year Anniversary Celebration. Following the field hockey game, the men's soccer team will be playing West Virginia at Cardinal Park at 6:30 p.m. There will be a special 10th Anniversary Presentation of Cardinal Park taking place on the soccer field during half time.
The night continues with an 8:30 p.m. pep rally before the annual U of L vs. Kentucky football game. The night will conclude with a concert by Kentucky natives Nappy Roots who will be performing their new song "Cardinal Chomp."
About the Cards
U of L (4-2) stayed at No. 16 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association rankings after road wins at Missouri State and Saint Louis. The Cards outscored both opponents on the weekend 16-0, defeating the Bears 3-0 and the Billikens 13-0.
Sophomore Hayley Turner has emerged as the team's offensive leader with 15 points (5G, 5A). Junior Nicole Youman follows with nine points (2G, 5A). Senior Heather Bustanoby (4-2) owns a 1.29 goals against average and has helped the Cards to three shutouts on the season.
Louisville vs. Syracuse
Series Record: Tied 3-3
Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2008 - Syracuse won 3-0 at Syracuse Scouting the Orange: Seventh-ranked Syracuse enters their BIG EAST opener with a 5-1 record - with their only loss a 3-2 overtime decision to then-seventh ranked Princeton. The Orange were the coaches' preseason pick to win the league championship after coming off of a 2008 NCAA semifinal appearance. Lindsey Conrad leads the Orange offensively with five goals while Leann Stiver (3-1) and Ashleigh McGowan (2-0) have combined for a 2.01 team goals against average.
Louisville vs. Michigan
Series Record: Michigan leads 6-1-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 14, 2007, Michigan won 3-2 at Trager Stadium Scouting the Wolverines: Michigan enters the weekend with a 2-4 overall record prior to Saturday's matchup with Syracuse. All four of the Wolverines' losses have come at the hands the top five teams in the nation, including: No. 4 North Carolina, No. 2 Wake Forest, No. 1 Maryland and then-No. 5 Connecticut. Bryn Bain leads Michigan with four goals, while Paige Pickett as a 2.41 goal-against average and a .729 save percentage.
Turner and Collins Earn BIG EAST honors
Hayley Turner and Caitlin Collins were named to the BIG EAST honor roll on Sept. 14. Turner notched her first career hat trick in Louisville's record-setting13-0 win over Saint Louis and dished out an assist in the 3-0 win over Missouri State. She now leads the Cards in points (15), goals (5) and assists (5). Collins was instrumental in both of Louisville's shutouts on the weekend. The defender helped limit the total number of shots on the weekend to three (Missouri State had one and SLU had two) and gave up only four combined corners on the weekend.
Cardinal Corner
• Ten different players have combined for Louisville's 26 goals so far this season - with nine of those ten players scoring multiple goals. Hayley Turner leads the team in goals (5), assists (5) and points (15). Nikki Auker and Simone Attles are tied for second with three goals each.
• Junior midfielder Nicole Youman is now tied for fifth on the school's career assists list with 24. She needs four more to move to fourth.
Up Next
The Cards' BIG EAST slate does not get any easier as they go back on the road to face sixth-ranked Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 26 at noon.
