Women's Lacrosse Plays Host to No. 2 Syracuse, Connecticut
April 19, 2012 | Women's Lacrosse
April 19, 2012
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's lacrosse team concludes the regular season at home this weekend, playing host to second-ranked Syracuse on Friday, April 20, and then Connecticut on Sunday, April 22. Both contests will be held at the U of L Lacrosse Stadium, and admission is free.
The Cardinals' match against the Orange on Friday at 5 p.m. will be televised on WHAS-TV (11.2, Insight 432, Comcast 207), while Sunday's game serves as "Senior Day," where Louisville will honor Eleni Kozas.
Louisville (3-10, 1-5 BIG EAST) is coming off a heartbreaking, 9-8 overtime loss at Villanova on April 15. The Cardinals, tied with the Wildcats at halftime, went on a 4-2 run to open the second period for their largest lead of the game, 8-5. Villanova, though, scored three goals in three minutes to tie the game and then won it with a score at the end of the first overtime session. Jamie Redding, Casey Pepperman and Colleen O'Malley each scored two goals, and Redding was credited with an assist for the third-straight game. Five different players recorded two ground balls apiece, including Monica Negron, who led the team with two caused turnovers. Cat Gordon won a game-high five draw controls.
Through April 15, the Cardinals rank seventh nationally in draw controls per game (15) and 20th in caused turnovers per game (8.54). Nikki Boltja headlines the individual rankings, as she is No. 3 in goals per game (3.54) and 11th in goals (46). Also in the top 25, Gordon ranks 13th in draw controls per game (4.69) and Negron is 17th in caused turnovers per game (1.77).
Syracuse, which sports an 11-2 overall record, going 4-0 in conference play, enters the game with a 10-match winning streak. The Orange's only loss came on Feb. 26, a 9-7 defeat by then-No. 6 Virginia.
Most recently, Syracuse topped No. 13 Cornell, 16-9, on April 17. The Orange outpaced the Big Red, 10-3, in the first half. Alyssa Murray had four goals and three assists in the win, while Kailah Kempney and Katie Webster tallied hat tricks as well. Kasey Mock had a team-best three ground balls, and Alyssa Constantino, who earned the win, made four saves in goal. Kelsey Richardson came in for relief and made eight saves.
Syracuse, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Gary Gait, ranks in the top 20 in six categories: No. 4 in scoring offense, No. 7 in scoring margin and win percentage, No. 10 in scoring defense, No. 11 in draw controls per game and No. 19 in points. Among the team's leaders, Murray ranks seventh in points per game, 11th in goals per game and 18th in points. Constantino, who boasts a 10-1 overall mark, ranks third nationally in save percentage and 11th in goals-against average.
Prior to Sunday's match, the Huskies (7-5, 0-4) are scheduled to face Cincinnati on Friday. Connecticut has lost four of its last five matches. Most recently, the Huskies fell to then-No. 9 Notre Dame, 16-9, on April 14. M.E. Lapham had a team-high three goals, and Lauren Kahn and Kiersten Tupper contributed two goals apiece. Kahn had a game-high three caused turnovers, and Kelsi Tucci tied a game-high with five ground balls. Brittney Testa played all 60 minutes in goal and made eight saves.
The Huskies, led by second-year head coach Katie Woods, rank 14th nationally in ground balls per game (17.83) and 15th in caused turnovers per game (8.75). Lapham is 11th in the country in goals per game (3.33) and 28th in points per game (4.08).
