Russ' Hat Trick Lifts No. 12 Cards Past Indiana

Friday, August 30

LOUISVILLE, KY

3:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

(1-0)

INDIANA

(0-1)

Indiana

LOU

August 30, 2019 | Field Hockey

Box Score Justine Sowry Interview Bethany Russ Interview

Cards open the season with a 5-0 win over Indiana

By: Lori Harmon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Senior Bethany Russ delivered her first career hat trick to lead the 12^th-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team to a 5-0 win over Indiana in both teams' season opener Friday afternoon at Trager Stadium. The Cards (1-0) return to action Sunday when they play host to UMass at 12 p.m.

"It's always nice to get a win on the board in the opening weekend and playing at home," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "It was a good day. What was pleasing was, we took some messages from last week and we put them into play today. We played some good Louisville Field Hockey."

Russ picked up where she left off as the Cardinals' leading scorer in 2018, delivering the first goal of the game when she slotted a shot from the left side of the circle with under four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Cards tallied three more goals over a four-minute span in the second quarter. Russ continued the offense just three minutes into the frame when connected on a penalty corner assist from junior Madison Walsh. Junior Mercedes Pastor utilized a feed from senior Whena Munn for the Cardinals' third goal of the game. Less than a minute later, Munn set up Walsh to give UofL a 4-0 advantage entering the break. In the first half, Louisville outshot Indiana 12-1 and held a 4-1 edge in corners.

The score remained 4-0 through the third quarter and for most of the fourth until Russ capped the scoring with 2:23 remaining in the game. The three-goal performance marked the first Louisville hat trick since September 23, 2018 when Erica Cooper scored four goals against Appalachian State.

"The third quarter, Indiana changed the tempo on us a little bit and we were unable to adjust," said Sowry. "We need to understand that regardless of our opponent or the way that they are playing against us, we have to come back to what we do and what we do best and communicate that to one another as well. A good start, but certainly some lessons we need to learn."

In the game, Louisville outshot IU 21-2 and held a 9-1 penalty corner advantage. Junior Hollyn Barr and redshirt freshman Sam Minrath each collected a save in the shutout.