Field Hockey Plays Host to Miami (Ohio) in Preseason Exhibition Friday; Alumnae Game Saturday

Friday, August 18

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:30 PM

University of Louisville

MIAMI (OH) (Exhibition)

Field Hockey Plays Host to Miami (Ohio) in Preseason Exhibition Friday; Alumnae Game Saturday

August 17, 2017 | Field Hockey

Live scoring vs. Miami (Ohio)

Cards will meet RedHawks in preseason matchup Friday at 1:30 p.m.

By: Lori Korte

The University of Louisville field hockey team will see its first competition of the 2017 preseason this weekend when the Cardinals play host to Miami (Ohio) Friday at 1:30 p.m. in an exhibition game. On Saturday, UofL welcomes former players to Trager Stadium for the 2017 Alumnae Game at 2 p.m. Admission is free.

About Louisville
The Cardinals are coming off of a successful 2016 campaign in which they earned their third straight NCAA appearance and finished the season with a 15-6 overall record – the second most wins in program history. After spending the entire regular season ranked among the top 10 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association(NFHCA) coaches poll, reaching as high as No. 6, Louisville finished the year ranked ninth.

Back from last year's team are a core group of 14 returners including two-time NFHCA All-America selection and Irish national team goalkeeper junior Ayeisha McFerran (Larne, Northern Ireland). Fellow two-time ACC and NFHCA All-West Region selection Nicole Woods (Beverly, Mass.) will open her senior season fresh off of a summer stint with the United States national team after helping USA Field Hockey to the FIH World League Semifinal title and a bronze medal in the Pan American Cup. Sophomore Minout Mink (Haaksbergen, Netherlands) looks to continue to demonstrate her offensive prowess after leading the Cards with 15 goals and 33 points in her freshman campaign.

The Cardinals will also look to senior co-captains Abby Grimes (St. Louis, Mo.) and Marigrace Ragsdale (St. Louis, Mo.) to provide steady leadership on a squad that features 10 newcomers.

Among the newcomers are USA Field Hockey Under 21 team member Meghan Schneider (San Diego, Calif.), Marisa Martin Pelegrina, a member of Germany's Under 18 squad and Argentinian Under 21 team member Mercedes Pastor.

Head coach Justine Sowry (South Australia, '91) is entering her seventh season at the helm. During her time at Louisville, the 2016 NFHCA West Region Coach of the Year has guided the Cardinals to 80 wins, three NCAA tournament appearances and a share of the 2013 Big East Conference title.

About Miami (Ohio)
The RedHawks were picked to finish second in the MAC preseason coaches' poll after posting a 12-8 record and a 5-1 mark in conference play. Miami returns 20 letterwinners including All-MAC selections Mariona Heras and Paula Portugal.

Up Next
Louisville will officially open the 2017 season next weekend when the Cardinals play host to Indiana on Aug. 25 in the annual 'Battle of the Border' at 2 p.m. Reigning national champion Delaware will visit Trager Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 27 for a 12 p.m. matchup.