Friday, October 9
LOUISVILLE, KY
6:00 PM
University of Louisville
vs
SYRACUSE
No. 11 Field Hockey Hosts No. 1 Syracuse Friday, Travels to Ohio State Sunday
October 07, 2015 | Field Hockey
Cards host Syracuse in ACC matchup Friday - fans encouraged to wear black
The 11th-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team will play host to top-ranked Syracuse in an ACC matchup Friday at 6 p.m. at Trager Stadium. The game will be shown on ESPN3. Fans are encouraged to wear black, admission is free.
About Louisville: Louisville (7-4, 0-4 ACC) is ranked No. 11 in the most recent NFHCA Coaches Poll released on Oct. 6. The Cardinals are led offensively by sophomore Stephanie Byrne who has six goals on the season. Sophomore Nicole Woods also has 12 points with four goals and four assists on the season. Freshman goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran (7-4) carries a 1.28 goals against average with five shutouts in 11 games.
Last weekend: Then-No. 9 Louisville traveled to Durham, N.C. to face No. 5 Duke. In a rain-soaked contest, Hunter Bracale gave the Blue Devils the lead just over three minutes into the game. In the second half, Robin Blazing added an insurance goal. In the game, Duke outshot Louisville, 11-7 while the Cards held an 8-3 lead in penalty corners.
Up Next: Louisville will wrap up ACC play at No. 10 Boston College on Oct. 16.
Cards against the opponents
No. 1 Syracuse
Oct. 9 | 6 p.m. |Trager Stadium
Television: ESPN3 | Announcers: Sean Moth (play-by-play); Patty Norton (analyst)
Series Record: Syracuse leads 8-3. The Orange have won the last six meetings dating back to the 2008 season
Last Meeting: Oct. 11, 2014 at Syracuse - SU won 3-1
Recapping the 2014 matchup: Laura Hurff gave Syracuse a 1-0 lead in the first half. In the second half, Emma Russell increased the lead to 2-0. Hurff connected on her second goal of the game make the score 3-0. Lotta Kahlert put the Cardinals on the scoreboard with just under three minutes remaining in the game.
Scouting the Orange: Syracuse (11-0, 3-0 ACC) enters the weekend as the top-ranked team in the nation. The 2014 NCAA runner-up Orange are one of two undefeated teams in the top 20 - the other is reigning national champion, second-ranked Connecticut.
• Syracuse posted a pair of wins last weekend with a 5-0 victory over Monmouth and a 9-1 decision over Cornell.
• Syracuse is led offensively by Roos Weers who also stands second in the ACC with 10 goals and 26 points. Emma Russell stands second with eight goals and four assists while Alma Fenne has seven goals and six assists for 20 points. Goalkeeper Jess Jecko (11-0) leads the conference and stands second in the nation with a 0.84 goals against average.
Ohio State
Oct. 11 | 1 p.m. |Buckeye Varsity Field
Series Record: OSU leads 16-8
Last Meeting: Sept. 23, 2014 – UL won 6-3 at Trager Stadium
Recapping the 2014 matchup: Six different players scored for the Cardinals in a 6-3 win at Trager Stadium. Lotta Kahlert gave the Cards a 1-0 lead and Kaitlyn Wagner tied the game. Shannon Sloss put Louisville back on top and Becca Maddock made the score 3-1, but Ohio State answered with Wagner's second goal of the game to bring the score to 3-2 entering halftime. In the second half, Hailey Netherton extended the lead to 4-2, but the Buckeyes responded with another goal – this time from Peanut Johnson. The Cardinals countered with a score by Alyssa Voelmle and Mallory Mason converted a penalty stroke for the 6-3 final.
Scouting the Buckeyes: Ohio State enters the weekend with a 6-4 overall record prior to a Friday matchup against Big Ten opponent Rutgers. The Buckeyes are coming off of a 5-2 loss to No. 8 Maryland last weekend.
• The Buckeyes are led offensively by Maddy Humphrey's 17 points (7G, 3A). Peanut Johnson follows with 15 points (6G, 3A). Goalkeeper Liz Tamburro carries a 2.11 goals against average and has two shutouts on the season.
Louisville ranked No. 11 in NFHCA poll
The University of Louisville field hockey team is ranked No. 11 in the Penn Monto/NFHCA National Coaches Poll released on Oct. 6. The Cards dropped two spots after last week's 2-0 loss at No. 5 Duke and a 1-0 win against UMass. Louisville had spent the previous three weeks in the top 10. The Cards opened the 2015 season at No. 12.
• This marks the 26th straight week the Cardinals have appeared in the top 20 rankings dating back to the 2013 season. The Cards finished 2014 ranked 10th in the final poll. Last season, Louisville spent six weeks in the top 10.
• On Oct. 7, 2014, Louisville appeared at No. 5 in the coaches' poll marking the second top-five appearance in program history with Louisville achieving a program-best No. 4 ranking in the 2002 season.
• All seven ACC teams were included in the NFHCA's top 11. It marks the 30th consecutive poll that the entire league has been ranked, a streak dating back to October 2012.
Balanced attack
The Cardinals have outscored opponents 26-15 on the season with 10 different players recording goals and seven players with two or more goals.
Tough stretch
This weekend, the Cardinals will face No. 1 Syracuse, marking the seventh ranked opponent in the last eight games. The stretch started Sept. 11 against then-No. 6 Virginia (L, 3-4) and continued with No. 17 Liberty (W, 2-1). Louisville then traveled to No. 3 North Carolina (L, 0-5) and No. 19 James Madison (W, 5-0) before returning home to face No. 8 Wake Forest (L, 1-2). Last weekend the Cardinals traveled to No. 5 Duke (L, 2-0).
Louisville No. 9 in the NCAA RPI
The Cardinals are currently No. 9 in the RPI released by the NCAA on Oct. 6. Seven of Louisville's 2015 opponents are included in the top 20 with all seven ACC teams listed in the top 11. Below is a list of Louisville's opponents in the top 20 of the NCAA's RPI.
1 – North Carolina
2 - Syracuse
3 - Duke
4 – Virginia
6 - Wake Forest
8 - Liberty
11 - Boston College
Home sweethome
Louisville has a 4-2 record at Trager Stadium and is now 21-3 at home since the beginning of the 2013 season.
• The Cards were 8-1 at Trager in 2014. On Oct. 17, 2014 Louisville fell 2-1 in overtime to No. 17 Boston College, snapping a 16 -game home victory streak dating back to the 2012 season.
• Prior to the Boston College loss in 2014, the Cards' last home loss came on Nov. 2, 2012 when they fell 2-1 in overtime to then-No. 5 Connecticut in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship.
• In 2013, UofL posted a perfect 10-0 record at Trager Stadium, going undefeated at home for the first time in school history.
Garcia among Louisville's career leaders
Senior Elisa Garcia has moved to No. 5 on Louisville's list for all-time assists. The midfielder currently has 28 career assists and needs four more to move into a tie for fourth with 2011 All-American Hayley Turner (2008-11). Nicole Youman (2007-10) owns the career assists record with 52.
• Garcia also currenlty has 66 career points, placing her at No. 10 on the school's all time list. She needs four more to move into a three-way tie for eighth with Jen Kastelic (2002-05) and 2014 All-American Alyssa Volemle (2011-14).
Garcia, Woods earn preseason All-ACC honors
• Elisa Garcia and Nicole Woods were selected to the Preseason All-ACC Field Hockey team and the Cardinals were picked to finish sixth in the league according to a vote of the league's seven head coaches.
• Garcia (Santiago, Chile), a senior midfielder and team co-captain, is a two-time All-National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) West Region selection. In 2014, the three-year starter led the Cardinals with 27 points and 13 assists.
• Woods (Beverly, Mass.) a sophomore midfielder/back was recently named to USA Field Hockey's Under 21 team after serving on the U19 team in 2014. As a freshman, Woods earned a starting role for the Cardinals and scored three goals with four assists for 10 points.
• North Carolina, which has reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship each of the past six years, garnered four votes for first place and edged out Syracuse for the top spot. The Orange, which advanced to the national championship game last year, collected two first place votes and 31 points. Duke was selected on one ballot to win the league and stands third in the preseason poll. Virginia, Wake Forest, Louisville, and Boston College round out the preseason poll.
Woods and Stone selected to USA Field Hockey's Junior National Teams
Sophomore Nicole Woods was selected to the Under-21 squad while incoming freshman Taylor Stone was named to the Under-19 squad.
• Members of the junior national teams were selected from the Junior National Camp which was comprised of the top 110 athletes selected from Young Women's National Championship, National Futures Championship and Futures Elite Championship. Louisville head coach Justine Sowry served as a coach for the 2015 USA U21 camp.
• Woods, a forward/midfielder from Beverly, Mass., was selected to the 2014 USA U19 squad and recently traveled to Belgium with the team. As a freshman, Woods played in all 21 of Louisville's games and scored three goals while dishing out four assists.
• Stone, a back from Herndon, Va., was a member of the 2013-14 USA Field Hockey team. She also represented the United States in the 2013 Maccabiah Games.
McFerran, Irish National Team compete in World League Games
Ayeisha McFerran is not your typical freshman making the adjustment to Division I field hockey. The goalkeeper from Larne, Northern Ireland, is also the youngest member of Ireland's National Team and has earned 24 senior caps. She competed in the 2015 World League Round 3 Games in Valencia where the Irish posted an eighth place finish. While playing in the World League 2 tournament, McFerran came off the bench to help the Irish national team beat Canada in an overtime shootout and win the championship.
Netzler-Gray returns to Louisville – on the sidelines
Louisville field hockey fans will see a familiar face on the sidelines this season. Former Cardinal great Olivia Netzler-Gray has returned to her alma mater and is in her first season as an assistant coach. Netzler-Gray (2001-03) was a two-time NFHCA All-Region selection and still ranks among the program's top 10 leaders in career goals and points.
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About Louisville: Louisville (7-4, 0-4 ACC) is ranked No. 11 in the most recent NFHCA Coaches Poll released on Oct. 6. The Cardinals are led offensively by sophomore Stephanie Byrne who has six goals on the season. Sophomore Nicole Woods also has 12 points with four goals and four assists on the season. Freshman goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran (7-4) carries a 1.28 goals against average with five shutouts in 11 games.
Last weekend: Then-No. 9 Louisville traveled to Durham, N.C. to face No. 5 Duke. In a rain-soaked contest, Hunter Bracale gave the Blue Devils the lead just over three minutes into the game. In the second half, Robin Blazing added an insurance goal. In the game, Duke outshot Louisville, 11-7 while the Cards held an 8-3 lead in penalty corners.
Up Next: Louisville will wrap up ACC play at No. 10 Boston College on Oct. 16.
Cards against the opponents
No. 1 Syracuse
Oct. 9 | 6 p.m. |Trager Stadium
Television: ESPN3 | Announcers: Sean Moth (play-by-play); Patty Norton (analyst)
Series Record: Syracuse leads 8-3. The Orange have won the last six meetings dating back to the 2008 season
Last Meeting: Oct. 11, 2014 at Syracuse - SU won 3-1
Recapping the 2014 matchup: Laura Hurff gave Syracuse a 1-0 lead in the first half. In the second half, Emma Russell increased the lead to 2-0. Hurff connected on her second goal of the game make the score 3-0. Lotta Kahlert put the Cardinals on the scoreboard with just under three minutes remaining in the game.
Scouting the Orange: Syracuse (11-0, 3-0 ACC) enters the weekend as the top-ranked team in the nation. The 2014 NCAA runner-up Orange are one of two undefeated teams in the top 20 - the other is reigning national champion, second-ranked Connecticut.
• Syracuse posted a pair of wins last weekend with a 5-0 victory over Monmouth and a 9-1 decision over Cornell.
• Syracuse is led offensively by Roos Weers who also stands second in the ACC with 10 goals and 26 points. Emma Russell stands second with eight goals and four assists while Alma Fenne has seven goals and six assists for 20 points. Goalkeeper Jess Jecko (11-0) leads the conference and stands second in the nation with a 0.84 goals against average.
Ohio State
Oct. 11 | 1 p.m. |Buckeye Varsity Field
Series Record: OSU leads 16-8
Last Meeting: Sept. 23, 2014 – UL won 6-3 at Trager Stadium
Recapping the 2014 matchup: Six different players scored for the Cardinals in a 6-3 win at Trager Stadium. Lotta Kahlert gave the Cards a 1-0 lead and Kaitlyn Wagner tied the game. Shannon Sloss put Louisville back on top and Becca Maddock made the score 3-1, but Ohio State answered with Wagner's second goal of the game to bring the score to 3-2 entering halftime. In the second half, Hailey Netherton extended the lead to 4-2, but the Buckeyes responded with another goal – this time from Peanut Johnson. The Cardinals countered with a score by Alyssa Voelmle and Mallory Mason converted a penalty stroke for the 6-3 final.
Scouting the Buckeyes: Ohio State enters the weekend with a 6-4 overall record prior to a Friday matchup against Big Ten opponent Rutgers. The Buckeyes are coming off of a 5-2 loss to No. 8 Maryland last weekend.
• The Buckeyes are led offensively by Maddy Humphrey's 17 points (7G, 3A). Peanut Johnson follows with 15 points (6G, 3A). Goalkeeper Liz Tamburro carries a 2.11 goals against average and has two shutouts on the season.
Louisville ranked No. 11 in NFHCA poll
The University of Louisville field hockey team is ranked No. 11 in the Penn Monto/NFHCA National Coaches Poll released on Oct. 6. The Cards dropped two spots after last week's 2-0 loss at No. 5 Duke and a 1-0 win against UMass. Louisville had spent the previous three weeks in the top 10. The Cards opened the 2015 season at No. 12.
• This marks the 26th straight week the Cardinals have appeared in the top 20 rankings dating back to the 2013 season. The Cards finished 2014 ranked 10th in the final poll. Last season, Louisville spent six weeks in the top 10.
• On Oct. 7, 2014, Louisville appeared at No. 5 in the coaches' poll marking the second top-five appearance in program history with Louisville achieving a program-best No. 4 ranking in the 2002 season.
• All seven ACC teams were included in the NFHCA's top 11. It marks the 30th consecutive poll that the entire league has been ranked, a streak dating back to October 2012.
Balanced attack
The Cardinals have outscored opponents 26-15 on the season with 10 different players recording goals and seven players with two or more goals.
Tough stretch
This weekend, the Cardinals will face No. 1 Syracuse, marking the seventh ranked opponent in the last eight games. The stretch started Sept. 11 against then-No. 6 Virginia (L, 3-4) and continued with No. 17 Liberty (W, 2-1). Louisville then traveled to No. 3 North Carolina (L, 0-5) and No. 19 James Madison (W, 5-0) before returning home to face No. 8 Wake Forest (L, 1-2). Last weekend the Cardinals traveled to No. 5 Duke (L, 2-0).
Louisville No. 9 in the NCAA RPI
The Cardinals are currently No. 9 in the RPI released by the NCAA on Oct. 6. Seven of Louisville's 2015 opponents are included in the top 20 with all seven ACC teams listed in the top 11. Below is a list of Louisville's opponents in the top 20 of the NCAA's RPI.
1 – North Carolina
2 - Syracuse
3 - Duke
4 – Virginia
6 - Wake Forest
8 - Liberty
11 - Boston College
Home sweethome
Louisville has a 4-2 record at Trager Stadium and is now 21-3 at home since the beginning of the 2013 season.
• The Cards were 8-1 at Trager in 2014. On Oct. 17, 2014 Louisville fell 2-1 in overtime to No. 17 Boston College, snapping a 16 -game home victory streak dating back to the 2012 season.
• Prior to the Boston College loss in 2014, the Cards' last home loss came on Nov. 2, 2012 when they fell 2-1 in overtime to then-No. 5 Connecticut in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship.
• In 2013, UofL posted a perfect 10-0 record at Trager Stadium, going undefeated at home for the first time in school history.
Garcia among Louisville's career leaders
Senior Elisa Garcia has moved to No. 5 on Louisville's list for all-time assists. The midfielder currently has 28 career assists and needs four more to move into a tie for fourth with 2011 All-American Hayley Turner (2008-11). Nicole Youman (2007-10) owns the career assists record with 52.
• Garcia also currenlty has 66 career points, placing her at No. 10 on the school's all time list. She needs four more to move into a three-way tie for eighth with Jen Kastelic (2002-05) and 2014 All-American Alyssa Volemle (2011-14).
Garcia, Woods earn preseason All-ACC honors
• Elisa Garcia and Nicole Woods were selected to the Preseason All-ACC Field Hockey team and the Cardinals were picked to finish sixth in the league according to a vote of the league's seven head coaches.
• Garcia (Santiago, Chile), a senior midfielder and team co-captain, is a two-time All-National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) West Region selection. In 2014, the three-year starter led the Cardinals with 27 points and 13 assists.
• Woods (Beverly, Mass.) a sophomore midfielder/back was recently named to USA Field Hockey's Under 21 team after serving on the U19 team in 2014. As a freshman, Woods earned a starting role for the Cardinals and scored three goals with four assists for 10 points.
• North Carolina, which has reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship each of the past six years, garnered four votes for first place and edged out Syracuse for the top spot. The Orange, which advanced to the national championship game last year, collected two first place votes and 31 points. Duke was selected on one ballot to win the league and stands third in the preseason poll. Virginia, Wake Forest, Louisville, and Boston College round out the preseason poll.
Woods and Stone selected to USA Field Hockey's Junior National Teams
Sophomore Nicole Woods was selected to the Under-21 squad while incoming freshman Taylor Stone was named to the Under-19 squad.
• Members of the junior national teams were selected from the Junior National Camp which was comprised of the top 110 athletes selected from Young Women's National Championship, National Futures Championship and Futures Elite Championship. Louisville head coach Justine Sowry served as a coach for the 2015 USA U21 camp.
• Woods, a forward/midfielder from Beverly, Mass., was selected to the 2014 USA U19 squad and recently traveled to Belgium with the team. As a freshman, Woods played in all 21 of Louisville's games and scored three goals while dishing out four assists.
• Stone, a back from Herndon, Va., was a member of the 2013-14 USA Field Hockey team. She also represented the United States in the 2013 Maccabiah Games.
McFerran, Irish National Team compete in World League Games
Ayeisha McFerran is not your typical freshman making the adjustment to Division I field hockey. The goalkeeper from Larne, Northern Ireland, is also the youngest member of Ireland's National Team and has earned 24 senior caps. She competed in the 2015 World League Round 3 Games in Valencia where the Irish posted an eighth place finish. While playing in the World League 2 tournament, McFerran came off the bench to help the Irish national team beat Canada in an overtime shootout and win the championship.
Netzler-Gray returns to Louisville – on the sidelines
Louisville field hockey fans will see a familiar face on the sidelines this season. Former Cardinal great Olivia Netzler-Gray has returned to her alma mater and is in her first season as an assistant coach. Netzler-Gray (2001-03) was a two-time NFHCA All-Region selection and still ranks among the program's top 10 leaders in career goals and points.
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Players Mentioned
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