Field Hockey Recognizes Senior Class

With the 2020 spring semester nearing its completion, the University of Louisville field hockey program is honoring the graduating senior class of 2019-20: Carter Ayars, Isabella Leeker, Whena Munn and Bethany Russ.

The class of seniors helped the program reach several milestones while competing in arguably the toughest conference in the NCAA. In doing so, they have helped their team to three NCAA tournament appearances – including the program's first appearance in the elite eight. As a group they have helped the Cardinals to 58 games while compiling an impressive 31-10 record at Trager Stadium in the last four years. During their careers, UofL has also been a mainstay in the national top 20 rankings while spending 31 weeks among the top 10, reaching as high as No.5.

The 2019 Cardinals posted a 16-6 overall record, tying a program mark for wins and earned the overall No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament, serving as a host site for the first time in program history. Louisville also made its first foray into the NCAA quarterfinals after defeating Michigan 2-1 in double-overtime in its first-round matchup.

UofL finished the season at No. 5 in the NFHCA Coaches poll after reaching as high as No. 5. The Cardinals spent the last 10 weeks of the season ranked among the top 10 in the nation.

The Senior Class of 2019
Carter Ayars studio

Carter Ayars Video Highlights
• ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient
• 2019 NFHCA All-America Third Team
• 2019 NFHCA All-West Region First Team
• 2019 All-ACC Second Team Selection
• Major is Exercise Science
Favorite memory: "My favorite Louisville Field Hockey memory is hosting and beating Michigan in the NCAA tournament this past year. It felt like our hard work all year (and even all four years) paid off. It was an incredible experience with my best friends, definitely a moment I'll never forget!"

Isabella Leeker Video Highlights
• Team co-captain (2018, 2019)
• Four-time NFHCA National Academic Squad selection
• Majoring in Finance and Marketing

Favorite memory: "One of my favorite team Louisville field hockey memories is going to Justine's lake house my freshman year. It was in the middle of preseason and I was a freshman so you think it's this impossible thing, but we went there and it was so much fun and was really about being more than just field hockey. We went tubing and had s'mores and did team bonding and it was great. As far as actual hockey memories, it would be tied for this year, winning the (NCAA) Sweet 16 or our ACC win vs. Duke. I love the locker room, some of the times I've danced or laughed the hardest have been in there."

Whena Munn studio photo

Whena Munn Video Highlights
• Played in every game throughout her career
• Registered an assist on the game winning goal against Syracuse in the ACC quarterfinals
• Tallied eight goals and seven assists in her career
• Major is Biology
Favorite memory: "My favourite moments with the team would be when we beat duke in the shoot-out (my sophomore year I think), it was so fun and exciting. Another was when this year we found out we were hosting first round and just celebrating that in the locker room with the team! Being a Cardinal has been such a great experience that has helped me grow so much! It was really great to be in such a cool team!"

Bethany Russ Studio photo

Bethany Russ Video Highlights
• Two-time Longstreth All-West Region (2018 Second Team, 2019 First Team)
• Two-time All-ACC second team selection (2018, 2019)
• 2019 Victory Sports Tours/NFHCA Senior Game Selection
• Led the team with 13 goals, 31 points
• Major is Accounting
Favorite memory: "My favourite memory was advancing to the elite 8 for the first time in program history. The excitement within the team and the eruption that came from the stands was such a wonderful thing to be part of."

University of Louisville Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Carter Ayars

Isabella Leeker

Whena Munn

Bethany Russ

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