Women's Lacrosse Faces No. 14 Georgetown on Saturday
March 28, 2014 | Women's Lacrosse
March 28, 2014
INDIANAPOLIS - The University of Louisville women's lacrosse team opens BIG EAST play this weekend, when it travels to No. 14 Georgetown on Saturday. First draw at Multi-Sport Field in Washington, D.C., is set for 2 p.m.
The Hoyas (3-5) have dropped their last four straight, most recently an 8-5 decision against 15th-ranked Loyola (Md.). Two of Georgetown's losses over that stretch have been one-goal decisions: 11-10 to No. 19 Stanford and 11-10 to No. 11 Johns Hopkins.
The Greyhounds trailed the Hoyas 4-3 at the half, but outscored Georgetown 5-1 in the second for the victory. Five different Georgetown players recorded a goal, and the Hoyas won the ground ball and draw control battles.
This season, Kelyn Freedman and Caroline Tarzian each lead Georgetown with 14 goals apiece. Freedman also has a team-high 13 ground balls. Adrianne Devine is anchoring the defense with 15 caused turnovers.
The Cardinals are returning to action after not having played since defeating Vanderbilt on March 19. Louisville (6-3) earned an 18-14 victory in a matchup that never saw either team trail or lead by more than three goals during regulation. Collectively, Louisville outshot Vanderbilt 35-27, held an 18-14 advantage in ground balls, and won the draw control battle 19-16.
Reigning BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week Nikki Boltja had a game-high six goals along with two assists. Cortnee Daley and Faye Brust helped power the Cardinals' offense, totaling five goals apiece. Kaylin Morissette, who was named an Inside Lacrosse midseason All-American with Boltja earlier this week, had a game-best 10 draw controls.
Through nine games, Boltja leads the Cardinals in goals with 37 and points with 47 - both marks that lead the BIG EAST. Nationally, Boltja's goal total is third most in the country, while her point total is seventh-best nationally. The Medina, Ohio, native's 4.11 goals per game rank No. 1 in the league and second nationally, and her 5.22 points per game, also a BIG EAST leading mark, is eighth best in the nation.
Morissette, who is compiling a standout sophomore campaign, has 21 goals and 71 draw controls through nine games this season. She is averaging 7.89 draw controls per game, which ranks first in the BIG EAST and third nationally.
Defensively, Daley has team bests of 20 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. Goalkeeper Ashley Herbst boasts a 9.65 goals-against average.
