University of Louisville
VILLANOVA
No. 10 Field Hockey Downs Villanova 6-0
October 16, 2010 | Field Hockey
Oct. 16, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - Senior Nicole Youman scored twice and dished out three assists to lead the tenth-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team to a 6-0 victory over Villanova in a BIG EAST Conference game Saturday at Trager Stadium. The Cardinals improve to 10-5 (4-1) while the Wildcats drop to 5-8 (1-3).
"The Cards played the type of game we have been training for," said U of L head coach Pam Bustin. "Last week we worked to improve on specific areas and I'm most pleased that the team was able execute what we practiced. Villanova is always a dangerous team which requires constant attention. That focus along with our penalty corner execution earned this important win."
Louisville wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, jumping to a 1-0 lead just 2:01 into the game. After drawing an early penalty corner, senior Karah Nall connected on Nicole Youman's penalty corner feed for her third goal of the season.
Five minutes later, senior Rachel Hollenbach notched her fourth goal of the year when she fired a shot from the top of the circle into the left side of the cage to increase Louisville's lead to 2-0.
The early offense continued when the Cards earned another penalty corner three minutes later. Senior Jenna Ahern tallied her third goal of the season when she tapped in Youman's initial shot to make it a 3-0 game at the 10:23 mark.
On the Cardinals' fifth penalty corner of the half, Youman sent a pass across the circle to junior Hayley Turner who waiting on the left post to knock the ball past Villanova goalkeeper Megan Goelz for her sixth goal of the season.
Louisville took the 4-0 lead into halftime after outshooting Villanova 11-1 and holding a 7-0 advantage in penalty corners.
The teams battled in the opening 20 minutes of the second half before Youman took matters into her own hands when she gained control of the ball around the 40 yard line and dribbled into the circle. After maneuvering past two defenders, Youman fired a shot from the middle of the circle for her 13th goal of the season to make the score 5-0.
The Cards' last goal came with just under 30 seconds remaining in the game as they were awarded their final penalty corner. Ahern and fellow senior Tuli Lim combined to set up Youman's second goal of the game and team-leading 14th goal of the season, a shot from the top of the circle past Goelz for the 6-0 final.
The Cardinals outshot the Wildcats 18-4 and held a 12-1 advantage in corners in the game. Youman's three assists tied a single game record and give her 16 on the season, breaking her own record set in 2009. Sophomore goalkeeper Erin Conrad (10-5) posted three saves en route to her fifth shutout of the season. Villanova's Goelz (5-8) collected eight stops in the loss.
U of L (10-5, 4-1 BIG EAST) will wrap up the home season against Iowa Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised live on WHAS11. The Cards will honor seniors Jenna Ahern, Simone Attles, Nikki Auker, Rachel Hollenbach, Tuli Lim, Karah Nall and Nicole Youman in a ceremony following the game.
