Field Hockey Tops Kent State in Preseason Scrimmage
August 21, 2010 | Field Hockey
Aug. 21, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville field hockey team wrapped up the 2010 preseason with a win over visiting Kent State in a scrimmage game Saturday. The Cards topped the Golden Flashes 3-0 in the regulation game. The teams proceeded to practice a sudden-victory overtime and a penalty stroke-off and the Cards came away victorious in both.
"We are very grateful to have had the opportunity to prepare for the season against a high quality opponent such as Kent State," said U of L head coach Pam Bustin. "We worked on different tactics and to see a lot of players in decision-making situations. We'll take what we learned today and improve in practice as we head into our season opener next week."
The teams played a scoreless first half in which Cards outshot the Golden Flashes 7-2 and held a 6-1 advantage in penalty corners. Sophomore Amber Thomas put Louisville on the scoreboard when she connected on a rebound off of Kirstin Willder's pads at the 41:31 mark.
Three minutes later, the Cardinals capitalized on a penalty corner to increase the lead to 2-0 when senior Simone Attles sent another rebound into the cage.
The third goal of the game came off the stick of senior Rachel Hollenbach with a penalty corner assist from senior Karah Nall at the 66:59 mark.
During the regulation period, the Cards outshot the Golden Flashes 21-9 and held a 12-6 advantage in corners. Louisville goalkeeper sophomore Erin Conrad picked up five saves in the shutout.
The teams elected to practice a 15 minute sudden-victory overtime period. With the field cut down to seven players per side, the teams battled in the midfield for the first four minutes before senior Nicole Youman powered a shot from the top of the circle past Kent State keeper Caroline Suitch to end the period at the 4:03 mark.
The day ended with a best-of-five penalty stroke contest. Kent State's Nicole Leach took the first shot and Conrad turned it back with a diving save. Hollenbach's shot was good to put Louisville on the board. Carla Johl's goal and senior Jenna Ahern's miss tied the strokes at 1-1. Conrad picked up another save off of Rachel Miller's shot and junior Caitlin Collins put the Cardinals up 2-1 after three rounds. Kent State's Katie George's shot resulted in another Conrad save and Youman sent a shot into the cage to give the Cards a 3-1 advantage going into the final round. Debbie Bell's shot sailed wide and Nall's was stopped to end the game.
The Cards will officially open the 2010 season against Duke in the Aug. 28 in the Champion's Challenge at Michigan State.
