Field Hockey Prevails in Preseason Exhibition

Friday, August 18

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:30 PM

University of Louisville

MIAMI (OH) (Exhibition)

August 18, 2017 | Field Hockey

Highlights Postgame Interview Justine Sowry Postgame Interview Marigrace Ragsdale Photo Gallery

Cards defeat Miami 6-2 in regulation

By: Lori Korte

The University of Louisville field hockey team used goals from six different players to beat Miami (Ohio) 6-2 in a preseason exhibition Friday at Trager Stadium. The Cards went on to win 1-0 in a bonus overtime period and prevailed 3-2 in a shootout in their first preseason tune up.

After playing to a 2-2 tie in the first half, the Cardinals erupted for four goals in the second half en route to the 6-2 victory. Louisville wasted little time getting on the scoreboard when, five minutes into the game, sophomore Whena Munn collected a rebound off of Miami goalkeeper Maddie Passarella's pads and sent it into the cage to put the Cards on the scoreboard.

The RedHawks answered less than two minutes later when Paula Portugal capitalized on penalty corner assists from Henni Otten and Morgan Sturm to even the score at 1-1.

Louisville pushed back ahead 2-1 behind a freshman combination as Jillian Shive connected on a feed from Marisa Martin Pellegrina at the 10:12 mark in the game.

Once again, Miami responded on another penalty corner as Morgan Sturm used an assist from Mariona Heras to make the score 2-2.

In the first half of play, Louisville held a 10-3 edge in shots and a 5-2 advantage in corners.

The Cardinals turned up the offensive pressure producing four goals in the second half. The teams played through 10 scoreless minutes to open the period before senior Marigrace Ragsdale took matters into her own hands by dribbling into the circle and delivering an unassisted shot past Passerella for the go-ahead goal.

Midway through the half, junior Taylor Stone used penalty corner assists from Martin Pellegrina and Ragsdale to add an insurance goal. The Cards added two more goals courtesy of sophomores Minout Mink and Sydnie Swartwood in the final 10 minutes of regulation to make the score 6-2.

In the first two periods of play, Louisville outshot Miami 22-6 and held a 7-3 edge in corners. Sophomore goalkeeper Hollyn Barr collected one save in the win while Miami's Passarella had seven stops and Rosie Kalis turned back two.

The exhibition continued with a 15-minute overtime period. The teams traded early scoring opportunities, but Munn's unassisted goal in the eighth minute put the Cardinals on the scoreboard in the sudden-victory frame.

The day concluded with a shootout. Miami gained an early advantage with a goal from Portugal, but the Cardinals responded with goals from freshman Alli Bitting, Stone and Mink. Miami's Allie Grace Joyner connected on her final attempt, but the Cards prevailed 3-2.

"It was a slow start," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "When you lose seven starters from the previous year and you have a lot of new players coming in, we were hesitant. Miami, the way that they were playing a lot of movement, a different system… We struggled a little bit at the beginning, but as the game wore on, we were able to connect passes, find different combinations, and play deep through our lineup. Overall, I'm very, very pleased, it just took us a little while to get started."

Louisville will return to action on Saturday when the Cardinals welcome former letterwinners back to Trager Stadium at 2 p.m.

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