Women's Lacrosse Opens BIG EAST Play This Weekend
March 21, 2013 | Women's Lacrosse
March 21, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's lacrosse team begins its fifth season of BIG EAST play with a pair of road contests against league opponents this weekend.
Louisville's first conference game of the year comes against Loyola (Md.) on Friday, March 22, in Baltimore. Two days later, the Cardinals square off against Georgetown on Sunday in Washington, D.C.
Currently ranked 20th by InsideLacrosse.com and the IWLCA, the Cardinals own a 7-1 mark after posting a pair of victories last week. Statistically, the Cardinals are third in the country in scoring offense (15.38 goals per game) and scoring margin (+8.25), fourth in draw controls per game (15.13), seventh in scoring defense (7.13 goals per game), 10th in points (163) and 15th in caused turnovers per game (10.13).
Louisville recorded a 19-2 win over Detroit on March 13 and then a 9-8 victory at Drexel on Sunday. In those games, the Cardinals outshot their opponents, 63-21, held a 30-12 advantage in draw controls, and forced 43 turnovers.
Individually, Kaylin Morissette has led the team with six total goals in those two contests, while Katie Oliverio, who was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, had a team-best nine points (two goals, seven assists). Also offensively, Nikki Boltja and Erika Eipp each had five goals and two assists. Defensively, Hillary Bushway totaled four caused turnovers and four ground balls.
Loyola (Md.) enters Friday's contest with a three-game losing streak, holding a 2-4 overall record.
The Greyhounds dropped their last decision to James Madison, falling 9-8 in overtime. James Madison's Ali Curwin scored with just eight seconds remaining in the first overtime session to give the Dukes the win. Loyola had three players finish with two-goal performances: Joanna Dalton, Kara Burke, and Taryn VanThof. The Greyhounds recorded the game's only four first-half goals, but were outscored 7-3 in the second period.
Loyola is under the direction of fifth-year head coach Jen Adams, who has guided the program to a 55-26 record and consecutive BIG EAST titles. The Greyhounds were picked to finish second in the preseason coaches' poll, with Marlee Paton, Annie Thomas and Sydney Thomas earning preseason all-conference honors. Paton leads the team in goals (10), assists (8), and ground balls (18).
Georgetown, which has faced five top-20 opponents this season, boasts a 5-2 record that includes a win over then-No. 12 ranked Johns Hopkins last week. The Hoyas are eighth in this week's national polls.
The Hoyas fell to No. 3 North Carolina, 17-11, on Saturday. The Tar Heels held the advantage in draw controls (19-11) and ground balls (16-11) and were led by Abbey Friend's five goals and one assist. Six other UNC players scored as well in the victory, and the team's two goalkeepers combined to make nine saves. Meghan Farrell scored a hat trick in the loss.
Georgetown is under the direction of ninth-year head coach Ricky Fried, who's guided the program to a 98-54 overall mark. The Hoyas, who were picked to finish fourth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, are led by Caroline Tarzian's 17 goals and nine assists. Adrianne Devine leads the team with 10 caused turnovers, and Barb Black, the lone goalkeeper to see action, has made 42 saves and owns a 10.29 goals-against average mark.
For the latest information on Louisville women's lacrosse, log on to GoCards.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/louisvillelax or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/uofllacrosse.
