2017 Field Hockey Schedule Released

University of Louisville field hockey coach Justine Sowry has announced the 2017 schedule. The 18-game slate features 10 teams that competed in the 2016 NCAA tournament including national champion Delaware and runner-up North Carolina. The Cardinals will play nine home games during the regular season with Trager Stadium serving as the host site for the 2017 ACC and NCAA Championships.

"There is a lot to be excited about this season," said Sowry. "We are coming off a great spring with a lot of development and maturity both on and off the field. We bring in a talented and versatile freshman group who will add depth and another dimension to the team; and we have an opportunity to host another NCAA Championship and our first ever ACC Championship."

Eleven of the Cardinals' opponents finished last season ranked among the top 20 in the nation with seven of those in the top 10. Louisville posted a 15-6 overall record and earned and its third straight at-large bid to the NCAA tournament in 2016. The Cardinals were ranked No. 9 in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Poll after spending the entire regular season ranked in the top 10, reaching as high as No. 6.

"Yet again we have a schedule that is tough, challenging and will prepare us for the arduous ACC schedule," said Sowry. "There are no easy matchups and that is what makes it exciting for our squad."

After a preseason exhibition game against Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 19, Louisville will officially open the season at home against Indiana on Aug. 25. The Cardinals will then take on 2016 national champion Delaware on Aug. 27.

UofL will begin September with a six-game road stretch that includes Ohio State followed by 2016 NCAA tournament participants Kent State, No. 19 American, No. 2 Maryland and No. 1 Duke in its ACC opener. The Cards will wrap up the road swing at No. 13 Northwestern before returning home to face ACC foe Wake Forest followed by James Madison. Louisville will close out September by hosting No. 3 Syracuse in a conference matchup on Sept. 29 and will play Central Michigan to start the month of October.

Louisville will then hit the road for games against No. 11 Boston College, New Hampshire and No. 4 North Carolina before finishing October with home games featuring No. 7 Virginia, No. 10 Michigan and Ohio.

Following their regular season finale, the Cardinals will remain in the friendly confines of Trager Stadium as Louisville hosts the 2017 ACC Championship which will take place Nov. 2-5.

Two weeks later, Trager Stadium will once again be the host site for elite field hockey competition as the final four teams remaining in the NCAA Championship will battle for the national title. It will be the sixth time that Trager Stadium will serve as the host site for the NCAA Division I Field Hockey National Championship. The event was also staged on the Cardinals' home field in 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011. In addition, the NCAA Division II Championship was played at the facility in 2010. Located in Cardinal Park on the UofL campus, Trager Stadium opened in 2000 and was expanded in 2008 with a seating capacity of 2,500.

"I feel fortunate that we got pushed to the top to host the ACC Championship and our team gets to experience playing home at Trager Stadium in this environment," said Sowry. "Equally, I am proud that we have been selected to host the next two NCAA Championships. It says a lot about what we have to offer as a university, city and of course our facilities. Our administration and staff do a terrific job hosting championships and these events will be no exception."

University of Louisville Athletics

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