Field Hockey Releases 2014 Schedule
May 29, 2014 | Field Hockey
May 29, 2014
Complete 2014 Field Hockey Schedule 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville field hockey coach Justine Sowry has announced the 2014 schedule which includes eight games at Trager Stadium.
The Cardinals' 2014 slate features four top 10 teams including 2013 NCAA runner-up Duke and semifinalist North Carolina. Additionally of Louisville's 19 opponents finished last season ranked in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association top 20.
Louisville will look to defend last season's perfect home record with eight games at Trager Stadium in 2014. Four of the eight teams visiting Trager Stadium finished the 2013 season ranked among the top 20 including:, No. 3 North Carolina, No. 5 Duke, No. 11 Boston College and No. 16 New Hampshire.
"The 2014 schedule is the most challenging that our program has faced and it is equally exciting," said Sowry. "We have been working hard toward the transition into the ACC, the toughest field hockey conference in the nation and we are ready to take on the best. Our non conference games are equally demanding and those games will prepare us for what we will be facing on a more regular basis. We will now be playing in different regions of the country which will also enable greater exposure for our current and future Cardinal fan base. This is an amazing opportunity for our program and we cannot wait to get started."
The Cardinals will travel to No 19 Iowa for a preseason scrimmage on August 23 before opening the season against Saint Louis on August 29 and No. 16 New Hampshire on August 31.
UofL will spend the first two weekends of September on the road starting with a trip to Evanston, Ill., to face Dartmouth and No. 17 Northwestern. The Cards will open Atlantic Coast Conference play at No. 7 Virginia on Sept. 14 and will wrap up the weekend at William & Mary.
The Cards will return to Trager Stadium for another tough ACC contest against No. 3 North Carolina on Sept. 20 and will stay at home for a game against Ohio State on Sept. 23. Louisville will close out the month of September on the road with a conference game at No. 13 Wake Forest followed by a trip to Liberty in Lynchburg, Va.
The month of October will not be any easier as four of Louisville's first five opponents enter the season ranked in the top 11 starting with fifth-ranked Duke which posted a runner-up finish in the 2013 NCAA championship. The Blue Devils will visit Trager Stadium for a conference game on October 3. The Cards will also play host to Big Ten power Michigan on Oct. 5. Another challenging league matchup follows with a tip to second-ranked Syracuse on Oct. 11. The Cardinals will return home to face No. 11 Boston College in an ACC game on Oct. 17 and California on Oct. 18. After a midweek trip to Ohio University, UofL will celebrate senior day on Oct. 24 against UC Davis.
The Cardinals will spend the final two weekends of the regular season on the road with games at Indiana and No. 20 Michigan State.
Louisville will travel to Durham, N.C. for the ACC tournament which will take place Nov. 5-9.
The 2013 Cardinals posted a 15-5 record - the most wins since 2001 - and earned a share of the BIG EAST Regular season title with a 6-1 record in league play. Additionally, Louisville registered a perfect10-0 record at Trager Stadium for the first time in program. The Cardinals finished the season ranked No. 15 and were a mainstay in the 2013 NFHCA top 20 rankings, appearing as high as No. 14 where they spent four weeks.
