No. 11 Field Hockey Travels to Virginia
September 11, 2014 | Field Hockey
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The No. 11 University of Louisville field hockey team will travel to Virginia this weekend for a pair of games. The Cardinals will face ninth-ranked Virginia on Friday in their ACC opener and will travel to William & Mary on Sunday.
The Cardinals (4-0) enter their ACC opener ranked 11th in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll - their highest ranking since Oct. 26, 2010 when they were ranked 10th. The Cardinals moved up four spots after going 2-0 last weekend with a 2-0 win over Dartmouth and a 1-0 win over then-No. 15 Northwestern.
Cards against the opponents
Virginia
Friday, Sept. 12, Charlottesville, Va. - 6:00 p.m.
Series Record: Virginia leads 4-1
Last Meeting: Aug. 30, 2013 - Then-No. 7 UVA won 3-2 at Virginia in Louisville's season opener. Alyssa Voelmle and Gianna Perrone scored for the Cardinals, but goals by Riley Tata, Elly Buckley and Caleigh Foust propelled the Cavaliers to victory.
Scouting the Cavaliers: The ninth-ranked Cavaliers enter their first conference game with a 3-2 record, coming off Tuesday's 3-0 victory over Miami (Ohio). Prior to that, UVA posted a 6-4 win over then No. 7 Princeton last Sunday after tough losses to then-No. 8 Penn State and No. 20 Iowa. Sophomores Riley Tata leads the Cavaliers with five goals and 12 points while Jenny Johnstone carries a 2.00 goals-against average.
William & Mary
Sunday, Sept. 14, Williamsburg, Va. - 12:00 p.m.
Series Record: UofL leads 3-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 6, 2013 - UofL won 4-1 at Trager Stadium. Shannon Sloss scored a pair of goals while Jennifer Pels and Alyssa Voelmle also scored en route to a 4-1 victory. Taylor Hodge scored for the Tribe.
Scouting the Tribe: William & Mary enters the weekend with a 1-3 overall record and coming off of a 2-0 loss to No. 17 Michigan. Prior to that, the Tribe posted a 2-1 win over Central Michigan in the Wolverine Classic last weekend. W&M's other losses have come to then-No. 6 Virginia and Richmond. Peyton Smith leads the squad with two goals. • William & Mary plays host to Rutgers on Friday before the Cardinals come to town on Sunday.
Cardinal Quick Hits
• At 4-0 on the season, the Cardinals are off to their best start since 1980 when they opened the season with five straight wins.
• Sophomore Shannon Sloss leads the team with four goals and eight points. Through the first four games of the season, nine players have scored for the Cards - who have outscored opponents 18-4.
• Nine players have scored for the Cardinals with six players contributing two or more goals.
• Junior goalkeeper Sydney King carries a 1.29 goals-against average and has posted shutouts in her last two games.
• With a 99-53 career record, head coach Justine Sowry needs one more to reach the century mark.
Last Up:
Sophomore Shannon Sloss scored twice to lead the No. 15 University of Louisville field hockey defeated Dartmouth 2-0 Saturday afternoon at Northwestern's Lakeside Field. Senior Becca Maddock scored the only goal of the game and junior goalkeeper Sydney King registered seven saves as the No. 15 University of Louisville field hockey team shut out No. 14 Northwestern 1-0 Sunday afternoon at Lakeside Field.
Next Up:
UofL will return to Trager Stadium next weekend to face top-ranked North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 20. Ohio State will visit Trager Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Cardinals in the national rankings
UofL stands among the nation's leaders in several categories including goals per game, scoring average, scoring margin penalty corners per game and goals-against average.
• Sydney King is ranked 12th with a 1.29 goal-against average and 19th with a .789 save percentage. Shannon Sloss stands at No. 14 in goals per game with 1.0.
Cards among ACC leaders
• Through the first four games of the season, the Cards stand at second in the ACC in scoring margin (3.50), scoring average (4.50); goals scored (18); goals scored per game (4.50); fewest goals allowed (4). UofL stands third in goals-against average (1.29).
• Heading into the first weekend of conference play, Louisville is one of four undefeated teams in the ACC. Syracuse carries a 6-0 overall record, while Duke and North Carolina are each 4-0 on the season.
For the latest information on Louisville field hockey, log on to GoCards.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/ulfieldhockey or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ulfieldhockey.
