Cardinals Stay Unbeaten with 2-1 Win at Virginia

Saturday, October 24

Charlottesville, VA

2:00 PM

University of Louisville

(7-0)

Virginia

(3-5)

Louisville

Virginia

October 24, 2020 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Lori Harmon

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Senior Madison Walsh's goal with 10 seconds remaining in the game lifted the University of Louisville field hockey team to a 2-1 win at Virginia Saturday afternoon.

Senior Mercedes Pastor registered a goal in the contest as the Cardinals improve to 7-0 on the season – the best start in program history.

"We made some good adjustments from yesterday's game which was pleasing, but when you play with 1-2 players down for 17 minutes, it makes it challenging for those on the field," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. 'I was unhappy with the lack of discipline, but incredibly proud of the grit, fight and determination that our team continues to show."

The teams played through a scoreless first half before the Cardinals broke through with a penalty corner goal midway through the third quarter. Senior Alli Bitting got the play started and freshman Charlie van Oirschot provided the stop for Pastor who blasted her team-best sixth goal of the season into the cage to give Louisville a 1-0 lead.

Virginia (3-5) responded in the fourth quarter behind a goal from Laura Janssen to even the score at 1-1 with just over nine minutes left to play.

The Cardinals were awarded three consecutive corners in the final two minutes, but Virginia's defense held strong to keep Louisville at bay. With 30 seconds left to play, the Cavaliers were awarded a 16-yard hit out of the circle and sent the ball downfield, but freshman Charlie van Oirschot intercepted the ball near midfield and gave it to Pastor broke away to the circle before a dishing a feed to Walsh. The senior forward sent the ball past Virginia's Lauren Hausheer for her second goal of the season to seal the win.

In the game, Louisville outshot Virginia 10-8 with an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal and a 5-4 edge in penalty corners. UVA goalkeeper Lauren Hausheer collected six stops while senior Hollyn Barr had one save in the win.

UofL will conclude the regular season with a game at Syracuse on October 30. The Cards own a program-best 5-0 mark in ACC play and have clinched at least a share of the regular season title.