2010 Field Hockey Schedule Released
March 25, 2010 | Field Hockey
March 25, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville field hockey team has released its 2010 schedule. The season features some key matches versus some of the best teams in the nation, highlighted by five teams that finished among National Field Hockey Coaches' Association's top 10, including semifinalist Princeton and national runner-up, Maryland.
"Again, we look forward to an exciting season of field hockey against a high level of competition" said head coach Pam Bustin. "The University of Louisville field hockey team can expect to be challenged day in and day out...just the way Team Cardinal prefers. As always, Team Cardinal believes in a top notch schedule to continue to develop our elite hockey level, and to help prepare the team for post-season competition."
The team will begin the season with an August alumnae game and a scrimmage against Kent State, both to be played at Trager Stadium. The Cards will then open the season at the Champions Challenge tournament in East Lansing, Mich. Aug. 28-29 where they will face #17 Duke, #6 Michigan State and Central Michigan will also participate in the tournament. The following weekend the Cards go on the road to face James Madison and American.
Louisville makes its home debut on September 8 against No. 15 Ohio State and return to Trager Stadium September 12 to face California. The Cards will also host Georgetown and Radford the following week before going on the road to open conference play against eighth-ranked Syracuse on September 25.
BIG EAST play will continue for the Cardinals who host No. 5 Connecticut on October 2 and will play Saint Louis at Trager Stadium the following day. From there, Team Cardinal will hit the road for a three game road trip against some tough competition, including two teams who made the NCAA national championship tournament last season. First they will travel to Bloomington, Ind. on October 5 to face the Hoosiers who finished 13th in the NFHCA poll last year. They will play Rutgers on the 9th before heading to Princeton, N.J. on the 10th to battle the fourth-ranked Princeton Tigers who were one of four national semi-finalists last season.
After three road games, the Cards will return home on October 16-17 to host conference foe Villanova and Iowa to wrap up the home season.
The Cardinals will close the 2010 regular season with a three-game road swing starting at Providence on October 23rd and then to New Hampshire on the 24th, leading up to a pivotal, regular season finale match-up against Maryland on the 30th. Maryland, ranked No. 1 in the NFHA poll, was the national runner-up in last year's championship tournament and has been to the national title game four times since 2005, winning the title in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
The BIG EAST championship will be held in Storrs, Conn. on November 6-7, with the NCAA regionals to be held November 13-14 and the NCAA championship November 19-21.
The Cardinals finished the 2009 season with a 12-8 record after losing to Connecticut in the BIG EAST semifinals. They return 15 players from last season's team and welcome the addition of eight new players.
