Field Hockey to Face Connecticut in First Round of NCAA Championship

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville field hockey team will travel to Storrs, Conn. to face the overall No. 4 seed, and two-time defending national champion University of Connecticut in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Field Hockey Championship on Nov. 14. Boston College and Albany will meet in the other first round matchup.

The winner of the first and second rounds will advance to the NCAA semifinals which will take place in Nov. 20 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

"We are so excited to be selected in a consecutive NCAA tournament and that he committee believed our resume was strong enough to get in," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "I am very proud of our team for a strong season thus far and equally excited for an opportunity to play against the defending NCAA champion in UConn. "

About Louisville
The ninth-ranked Cardinals (13-6) are coming off of a 2-1 loss to No. 3 North Carolina in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship on Nov. 5. The Tar Heels went on to win the tournament title and earned the league's automatic bid.

• This marks Louisville's second straight at-large bid and fifth overall NCAA appearance. It also marks the second consecutive season the Cardinals will travel to Storrs for the first round of the NCAA tournament.

About Connecticut
Two-time defending national champion Connecticut (20-0) earned the overall No. 4 seed in the tournament after capturing its fourth-straight BIG EAST Conference Championship with a 7-3 win over Temple on Sunday.
• The Huskies are ranked No. 2 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll released on Nov. 3.

Louisville vs. Connecticut
Series Record: Connecticut leads 15-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 11, 2013 – UConn won 6-0 in Storrs
• The Huskies have won the past six meetings
• Louisville's last win over the Huskies came on Oct. 2, 2010 when the Cards won 3-2 in overtime at Trager Stadium.
Note: The bulk series between Louisville and UConn spans from 2005 to 2013 when both teams were members of the BIG EAST Conference.

Quick Hits
• Louisville (13-6, 1-5 ACC) is ranked No. 9 in the most recent NFHCA Coaches Poll released on November 3.
• The Cardinals closed the regular season on a six-game win streak before falling 2-1 to No. 3 North Carolina in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship.
• Louisville posted a perfect 12-0 record against non-ACC opponents.
• All seven ACC teams were selected to play in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
• The Cardinals are led offensively by sophomore Nicole Woods who has 22 points (9G, 4A), fellow sophomore Stephanie Byrne has eight goals and 16 points on the season.
• Freshman goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran (13-6) carries a 1.14 goals against average with a league-best nine shutouts in 19 games.
• Senior Elisa Garcia stands third on Louisville's list for career assists with 36 and needs two more to tie for second. She also ranks seventh on the Cardinals' all-time points list with 74.
• Head coach Justine Sowry is in her fifth season at the helm for the Cardinals. She has compiled a 65-34 record at Louisville and has an overall 123-65 record while in her ninth season as a head coach.

Cards in the NCAA Tournament
2014 - First round (at Connecticut)
            #4 Stanford 2 - #10 Louisville 1/OT
2008 - First round (at Michigan State)
            # 6 Iowa 1 - Louisville 0
2004 - Play-in game (at Pacific)
            Pacific 1 - Louisville 0/OT
2003 - First round (at Michigan State)
            Michigan State 2 - Louisville 0

University of Louisville Athletics

Field Hockey to Face Connecticut in First Round of NCAA Championship

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Players Mentioned

Stephanie Byrne

Elisa Garcia

Ayeisha McFerran

Nicole Woods

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