No. 8 Cards Down No. 12 Ohio State 2-1

Sunday, September 15

Columbus, OH

1:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

(6-0)

Ohio State

(4-2)

Louisville

Ohio State

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

September 15, 2019 | Field Hockey

Box Score LOU 2, OSU 1 (PDF)

Cards use a pair of second-half goals to overcome a 1-0 deficit

By: Lori Harmon

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The eighth-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team used a pair of second half goals from Bethany Russ and Madison Walsh to beat No. 12 Ohio State 2-1 Sunday at Buckeye Field.

With the win, the Cardinals improve to 6-0 on the season, matching the best start in program history which last occurred in 2016.

"What a really positive result for this program," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "We set ourselves up well coming into the season and this game was part of our first phase of the season and to get a result against a quality team and an incredibly coached team – I'm impressed."

The teams battled through a scoreless first quarter with the shot tally even at 3-3 and the Buckeyes owning a 3-2 edge in penalty corners. Ohio State (4-2) struck midway through the second quarter after an official review resulted in a penalty stroke awarded to the Buckeyes. Mackenzie Allessie converted her attempt, giving OSU a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals found themselves down 1-0 at halftime after Ohio State owned a 6-4 advantage in shots and a 4-3 edge in corners.

"The first half wasn't the greatest half for us," said Sowry. "We played a little bit tentative and they controlled the tempo. I said to the group at halftime, the good news is that we haven't played 'our' hockey. So we came out in the second half and it was great. We controlled the play, had some great opportunities and were able to finish."

Louisville regrouped during the break and intensified its attack. With just over a minute remaining in the third quarter, the Cards capitalized on their only corner opportunity of the frame. Junior Alli Bitting got the corner started and Meghan Schneider provided the stop for Russ, who rifled her team-best seventh goal of the season into the cage, tying the game at 1-1.

The Cards took the momentum into the fourth quarter, scoring in the second minute of the period. Once again, Louisville took advantage of a penalty corner, this time to take the lead. Schneider tallied her second assist of the game when she directed a shot to the right side of the cage where Walsh was waiting to deflect the ball past OSU goalkeeper Aaliyah Hernandez. The junior's third goal of the season put the Cardinals on top 2-1 with 13:05 left to play.

"Our penalty corner unit was excellent today," said Sowry. "We put in the hard work as well as our scout unit, Isabella Leeker, Sarah Sabaluski and India Reed – really, they prepared us for those corners today. I'm super proud of the team."

The Buckeyes organized a late push to even the score, lifting Hernandez in favor of a field player for the final five minutes of the game, but the Cardinals defense stood strong and did not allow an OSU shot during that time.

In the game, Louisville outshot Ohio State 10-6 and had six corners to the Buckeyes' four. Barr (6-0) collected three saves.

UofL will continue its six-game road stretch next weekend when the Cards open ACC play at No. 1 North Carolina Friday at 5 p.m.