Field Hockey Set for a Pair of Weekend Games
September 30, 2009 | Field Hockey
Sept. 30, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 16th ranked University of Louisville field hockey team will play host to Rutgers in a BIG EAST Conference matchup Friday, Oct. 2 at 3 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 4, the Cards will play host to No. 8 Michigan State in a game that will be televised by WHAS11. The delayed broadcast will air following the Jimmy Kimmel show on Oct. 5 at 1:35 a.m.
The Cardinals enter the weekend with a 5-4 record (0-2 BIG EAST). U of L is led offensively by sophomore Hayley Turner's 19 points (6G, 7A). Junior Nicole Youman follows with 16 points (4G, 8A). Bustanoby (5-4) carries a 1.68 goals against average and a .712 save percentage.
Louisville is coming off of a 3-2 double overtime loss to then-fifth ranked Connecticut on Saturday. In that game, Nikki Auker and Karah Nall helped the Cards rally from down 2-0 in the second half and senior Heather Bustanoby posted a career-high 19 saves as Louisville put up a valiant effort while playing two overtimes down a player due to a yellow card.
Cards Against the Field
#16 Louisville (5-4, 0-2) vs. Rutgers (1-9, 0-2 BIG EAST)
Oct. 2 - Trager Stadium, 3 p.m.
Series Record:U of L leads 4-0
Last Meeting:Oct. 3, 2008 - U of L won 1-0 at Rutgers
Scouting the Scarlet Knights: Rutgers enters Friday's game with a 1-9 overall record (0-2 BIG EAST). The Scarlet Knights are led offensively by Jessika Hoh's eight goals and 16 points. Goalkeepers Vickie Lavell and Shanice Beasley have combined for a 4.62 goals against average.
#16 Louisville (5-4, 0-2 BIG EAST) vs. Michigan State (7-3, 1-0 Big Ten)
Oct. 4 - Trager Stadium, 1 p.m. - WHAS11 tape delay
Announcers: Sean Moth, Suzanne Irwin Bush
Last Meeting:Aug. 31, 2008, MSU won 6-1
Scouting the Spartans:Eighth-ranked Michigan State enters the weekend with a 7-3 overall record. The Spartans Manouk Vernij leads the team with 21 points (7G, 7A), Floor Rijpma follows with 18 points (8G, 2A). Goalkeeper Elissa Unger carries a 1.78 goals-against average and a .714 save percentage.
Cardinal Corner
• The Cardinals played only one game on the week, a 3-2 double overtime loss to No. 5 Connecticut on Saturday. Senior goalkeeper Heather Bustanoby collected a career-high 19 saves in the game.
• All but one of Louisville's four losses this year have been at the hands of teams in the top 20, including No. 13 Duke, No. 5 Connecticut, and No. 6 Syracuse. • The Cards have only been shutout once this season, in their first game, a 3-0 setback to then-10th ranked Duke.
• Eleven players have contributed to Louisville's 33 goals on the season, 10 of those players have accounted for multiple goals.
• Junior midfielder Nicole Youman is now fifth on the school's career assists list with 27. She needs one more to move to fourth and two more to move to third. Jessica Javelet holds the record for career assists with 38.
Up Next
The Cards will travel to Villanova for another BIG EAST Conference matchup on Oct. 10.
Bustanoby Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Heather Bustanoby was named BIG EAST Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 28.
Bustanoby, a goalkeeper from Virginia Beach, Va., earned the honor for the second time this season for her effort in the 16th-ranked Cardinals' 3-2 double overtime loss to No. 5 Connecticut. She collected 19 saves in the game marking a career high as well as a BIG EAST high among all goalies in 2009. Despite playing with a defense that was a player down for most of the two extra frames due to yellow cards, the senior stopped all nine of Loren Sherer's shots on goal, holding the nation's No. 2 scorer scoreless for just the second time all season. The Co-Defensive Preseason Player of the Year owns a .712 save percentage, a 1.67 goals against average and has earned one shutout this season while combining for two more.
Tough Slate
The Cards opened the 2009 season at No. 13 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association coaches' poll, marking the eighth straight season they have appeared in the top 20.
For the past fourweeks, Louisville has remained at No. 16 while in the midst of a challenging schedule. The Cardinals have lost to No. 5 Connecticut (3-2/2OT) No. 6 Syracuse (3-2), No. 13 Duke (3-0), with several top 20 teams ahead including No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 8 Michigan State, No. 14 Stanford, No. 18 Ohio State, No. 19 Providence.
