No. 5 Cardinals Take Down No. 4 Duke 1-0

Saturday, October 26

Durham, NC

1:30 p.m.

University of Louisville

(14-3 (3-2))

DUKE

(13-4 (1-4))

Louisville

Duke

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

October 26, 2019 | Field Hockey

Box Score UL 1 - Duke 0

Madison Walsh notches her eighth goal of the season to give Louisville the 1-0 win

By: Lori Harmon

DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Madison Walsh's goal in the third quarter lifted the fifth-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team to a 1-0 win over No. 4 Duke in an ACC matchup Saturday afternoon at Jack Katz Stadium. The Cardinals improve to 14-3 on the season and 3-2 in conference play while the Blue Devils drop to 13-4 (1-4).

"Really proud of this team," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "It was a fantastic bounce-back win against a great opponent. We did absorb a lot of pressure in the fourth quarter without getting much possession, so kudos to our defensive unit. Overall our pressing was much-improved and we moved the ball like we know we can. When we stick together instead of playing as individuals we can play with the best of them."

The teams played through a scoreless first half with Louisville holding 4-1 advantage in shots. Neither team had a shot on goal and no penalty corners were awarded in the first half of play.

The Cardinals struck midway the third through quarter when Walsh delivered reverse-stick shot that glanced off of a Duke defender's stick and dropped in over the goal line. The junior forward's eighth goal of the season gave Louisville a 1-0 lead.

Louisville withstood a late push from the Blue Devils who owned a 5-1 edge in both shots and corners in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils pulled goalkeeper Sammi Steele in favor of an extra field player for with 3:13 left on the clock. The Cardinals had an opportunity to add another goal with a penalty corner, but senior Bethany Russ was stopped by Duke's Jillian Wolgemuth to keep the score 1-0.

In the game, the Cards outshot the Blue Devils 9-7 while Duke held a 6-2 advantage in corners. Hollyn Barr collected two saves as Louisville recorded its sixth shutout of the season while Steele also had two stops.

The Cardinals will wrap up the regular season when they play host to No. 15 Syracuse Saturday at 1 p.m. Louisville will also honor seniors Carter Ayars, Hollyn Barr, Isabella Leeker, Whena Munn and Bethany Russ.