Third-Ranked Louisville Hits the Road for Sunday Matchup at No. 2 Michigan

WEEKEND INFORMATION
Louisville vs. No. 2 Michigan
Date: Oct. 10, 2021, 12:00 PM
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Venue: Ocker Field
Television: Big Ten+
Game Links: Live Scoring | Big Ten +
Twitter Updates: @ULFieldHockey
Louisville Field Hockey Game Notes

The third-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team will travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan to take on the second-ranked Wolverines on Sunday. In addition to featuring two of the top-three ranked teams in the nation, the contest will also mark a rematch of the 2020-21 NCAA Championship semifinal game which saw Michigan win 2-1 in a sudden-victory shootout.

NOTE CARDS
• The Cardinals are coming off of a 4-1 win over Miami (Ohio) at Trager Stadium on Monday evening.
• At 11-1, the Cardinals are off to the best start in program history surpassing the 10-1 start in 2019.
• Katie Schneider now leads the team with a career-best seven goals and 17 points on the season.
• Louisville has outscored opponents 29-9 this year. Ten different players have contributed goals for the Cardinals.
• UofL has now won four straight games and is 7-1 at Trager Stadium this year.
• Sunday's game at No. 2 Michigan will mark the eighth top-25 opponent the Cardinals have faced this season. Louisville is 6-1 in those games with its only loss coming at the hands of then-No. 2 Iowa on Sept. 19.
• UofL currently sits atop the ACC standings with a 3-0 conference record
• The Cardinals started the season with a 7-0 record for the second straight year, matching a school record start before falling 2-0 to the Hawkeyes.
• The Iowa loss also marked the first time the Cardinals were shut out since March 27, 2021 when Louisville fell 1-0 at then-No. 16 Boston College.
• The Cardinals are 3-0 in overtime games this season – including a 2-0 mark in double OT contests. The Cardinals last two wins have come in double overtime.
• Mattie Tabor has five goals on the season. All five of her scores have been game-winners - she leads the ACC in that category.
• Freshman Mila de Kuijer carries a 0.71 goals against average standing second in the ACC in that category. She also leads the conference with five shutouts on the season. Additionally, de Kuijer has allowed only one goal in three games against ACC opponents.
• Head coach Justine Sowry achieved her 200th career victory on Sept. 10 when the Cardinals defeated Indiana 1-0 at Trager Stadium.
• Julie Kouijzer was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 28 marking her second weekly honor this season after earning the accolade on Sept. 7. Louisville has now tallied three defensive weekly honors in the 2021 campaign Alli Bitting was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week in the league's first weekly award of 2021.
• Alli Bitting and Charlie van Oirschot were named to the Preseason All-ACC Field Hockey Team.

Head Coach Justine Sowry
Justine Sowry is in her 11th season at the helm. During her time at Louisville, she has guided the Cardinals to 148 wins, six NCAA tournament appearances reaching the quarterfinals twice and advancing to the semifinals for the first time in program history in the 2020-21 season. Under Sowry's tutelage, Louisville has tallied a pair of conference titles, including the 2020 ACC Fall Regular Season crown, and a pair of runner-up finishes in the ACC Championships.
• With UofL's 1-0 win against Indiana on Sept. 10, Justine Sowry reached 200 career victories in her 15th season as a head coach.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Michigan
Series Record: Michigan leads 11-4
Last Meeting: The last two meetings between the teams have come during the NCAA postseason. Most recently, on May 7, 2021 at Chapel Hill, N.C. in the 2020-21 NCAA semifinals. In the game, Louisville held an 8-7 edge in shots and an 8-4 advantage in corners. Emilia Kaczmarczyk's goal with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter evened the score at 1-1, sending the contest into overtime. The teams battled through two overtime periods before entering a shootout - the first in an NCAA semifinal game since 2017. Louisville goalkeeper Sam Minrath finished the contest with four saves.
• November 15, 2019, Bethany Russ' winning goal in double overtime lifted the fifth-ranked Cardinals to a 2-1 win over No. 11 Michigan 2-1 win to advance to UofL's first quarterfinal. In the tightly contested game, Louisville outshot the Wolverines 10-8 but Michigan had seven shots on goal to UofL's four with both teams being awarded four penalty corners. Russ tallied both of Louisville's goals.
Scouting the Wolverines: Second-ranked Michigan brings a perfect 9-0 record into the weekend prior to Friday's Big Ten matchup against No. 6 Northwestern.
• When the Wolverines face Louisville on Sunday, it will mark Michigan's fifth-straight top-25 opponent with top-ranked Iowa looming on the horizon. Among common opponents, Michigan has defeated North Carolina 3-2 (UofL will face on Oct. 22), Wake Forest 2-0 (UofL beat 2-1 in 2OTs) and Ohio State 1-0 (UofL beat 2-1 in 2OTs).
• Sofia Southam leads the Wolverines with 14 goals and 29 points and leads the nation in goals per game (2.0) and points per game (4.14). Anna Spieker carries a 0.88 goals against average with two shutouts.

UP NEXT
Following Sunday's match at Michigan, the Cardinals will continue their road stretch with an ACC matchup at No. 14 Boston College on Friday and a game at Northeastern on Sunday.

CARDS THIRD IN NFHCA COACHES POLL
UofL stands at No. 3 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Coaches poll released on Oct. 5, marking the second straight week for the Cardinals at that spot.
• Louisville has spent 12 of the last 13 weeks ranked among the top five in the nation. Last season, the Cardinals spent all seven weeks in the top five after debuting at No. 2 – the highest ranking in program history – on March 16, 2021. After two weeks in that slot, UofL remained in the top five throughout the rest of the season, finishing the year at No. 5. The Cardinals also concluded the 2019 campaign at No. 5.
• The Cards have been ranked among the top 10 for the last 25 weeks spanning back to the 2019 season when they appeared at No. 8 on Sept. 10.
• Louisville has now spent 90 consecutive weeks in the top 20 in the nation dating back to the 2013 season.

ACC STRONG
• All seven ACC teams appear in the top 25 with Louisville leading the way at No. 3. In addition to the Cardinals, the ACC holds three of the top 10 spots with Syracuse stepping in at No. 7 and North Carolina at No. 9. Rounding out the other ACC schools are No. 12 Virginia, No. 14 Boston College, No. 15 Wake Forest and No. 22 Duke.

UP LAST
#3 Louisville 4 - Miami (Ohio) 1
Katie Schneider scored a pair of goals to help lead the third-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team to a 4-1 win against Miami (Ohio) Monday evening at Trager Stadium. Julie Kouijzer and Mackenzie Karl also scored as the Cardinals improve to 11-1 on the season.
• In the game, Louisville held an 11-7 advantage in shots with a 9-3 edge in shots on goal while the RedHawks were awarded five penalty corners to Louisville's three. Mila de Kuijer recorded two saves in the game and Isabelle Perese had five stops in the cage for Miami (Ohio).

BALANCED OFFENSE
The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 29-9 this season.
• Ten different players have contributed to the Cardinals' goal tally with Katie Schneider's seven goals leading the way. Julie Kouijzer and Mattie Tabor following with five goals apiece. Filippa Niebuhr and Erica Cooper stand tied for third with three goals.

STINGY DEFENSE
Louisville has posted five shutouts in 12 games, leading the ACC and standing eighth in the nation and second in the ACC with 0.42 shutouts per game.
• The Cardinals have produced a 0.71 goals against average which stands third in the country while limiting opponents to just 50 shots on goal this season.
• Mila de Kuijer is in the midst of an impressive rookie campaign which started with back-to-back shutouts in the first two games of the season. She stands second in ACC and fourth in the nation with a 0.71 goals against average, and leads the league with five shutouts and an .820 save percentage.

TABOR FINDING HER GROOVE
After her sophomore campaign was cut short in the second game of the season due to injury, Mattie Tabor is back in the Cardinals' lineup and is tied for second on the team with five goals. All five of her goals have been game-winners to lead the conference in that category.
Tabor's game winning goals:
Aug. 27 vs. Ohio (6-0
Sept. 5 at Princeton (3-2/OT)
Sept. 12 vs. Liberty (3-1)
Sept. 17 vs. Virginia (1-0)
Oct. 1 vs. Wake Forest (2OT)

SCHNEIDER SHINES IN 2021
Katie Schneider in the midst of a career-best season. The forward from San Diego leads the team with 17 points (7G, 3A. She tallied three assists in the 6-0 win against Ohio, tying a school record.
• Schneider recently tallied a pair of goals in the 4-1 win against Miami (Ohio) to establish a new career single-season high, surpassing her previous mark of six in the 2020-21 campaign.

RETURNING PLAYER NOTES
• Alli Bitting (team co-captain); Earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Aug. 31… Returning for fifth season... 2021 Preseason All-ACC selection... Two-time NFHCA All-American and All-ACC selection... Led the team with a career-high eight assists and scored the game-winner in the Cardinals' 1-0 NCAA quarterfinal victory against UConn... Earned 2020-21 NFHCA All-West Region and All-ACC honors, helping the Cardinals' defense to eight shutouts on the season and registering one goal and four assists... Named to NCAA All-Tournament Team.
• Erica Cooper - Scored two goals in the Cardinals' season opener... Stands tied for fourth on the team with three goals... 2019 NFHCA All-West Region selection and is a two-year starter.
• Emilia Kaczmarczyk - Two-year starter... finished fifth on the team with 11 points (4G, 3A) in 2020-21.
• Mackenzie Karl- Scored her first career goal in the 3-1 win against No. 11 Liberty (Sept. 12)... Added another goal in the 4-1 win against Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 4.
• Julie Kouijzer- In the midst of a career-best season with five goals, four asissts and 14 points which place her second on the team... Two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Week this season (Sept. 7, Sept. 28)... Scored the game-winning goals at No. 18 Duke and in overtime at No. 19 Ohio State... Tied for second on the team with 12 points (4G, 4A)... 2020-21 NFHCA All-West Region second team honoree... Two-time ACC Tournament selection (2019, 2020)... Three-year starter
• Aimee Plumb - NFHCA All-West Region second team selection... Named to NCAA All-Tournament Team.
• India Reed – Has started every game in the backfield... Played in every game in the backfield in 2020-21. redshirted in 2019...
• Katie Schneider – Leads team with seven goals and 17 points… Tied a school record with three assists in the season-opening win against Ohio… Stood second on the team with six goals in the 2020-21 season.
• Mattie Tabor – All five of her goals have been game-winners... Dished out an assist in the 1-0 win against Indiana... Scored the game-winner in the 3-1 victory over No. 11 Liberty.
• Charlie van Oirschot - 2021 Preseason All-ACC selection... NFHCA All-West Region and All-ACC second team selection... Stood fourth on the team with four goals, including one in the ACC Semifinal win against Virginia... Started every game of her career at UofL.

NEWCOMER NOTES
Freshman Filippa Niebuhr has appeared in all of Louisville's games and has recorded three goals on the season - including the game-winner against Indiana.
• Fellow rookie Mila de Kuijer has played every minute in the cage this season and posted a career-high eight saves in the 2-1 double overtime win against No. 15 Wake Forest.
• She leads the ACC with five shutouts, and an .820 save percentage and has only allowed one goal in three ACC games.

TOUGH SLATE
Ten of the Cardinals' 18 opponents are ranked among the top 25 in the most recent NFHCA released on Oct. 5. In addition to its six ACC opponents, UofL will also take on, No. 1 Iowa, No. 2 Michigan, No. 10 Liberty, No 16 Ohio State and No. 18 Princeton.
• Louisville is 6-1 against ranked opponents this season with its only loss coming at the hands of No. 1 Iowa.

HOW THE CARDS STACK UP
• As a team, Louisville leads the ACC and stands third in the NCAA witha 0.71 goals against average.
• UofL stands second in the ACC and eighth nationally with 0.42 shutouts per game.
• Louisville leads the ACC and stands third in the NCAA with a 0.917 winning percentage.
• Individually, freshman Mila de Kuijer stands second the ACC and fourth in the NCAA with a 0.71 goals against average. She also carries a league-best .820 save percentage, stepping in at fifth in the country.

CARDS IN NCAA/ACC TEAM STANDINGS
Team
Category             Value     NCAA     ACC
Goals against average     0.71       3             1
Shutouts per game          0.42       8             2
Winning percentage        .917       3             1
Save percentage               .820       5             1
Individual
Mila de Kuijer
Goals against average     0.71       4             2
Goalie W/L percentage   .917       3             1
Save percentage               .820       5             1

International EXPERIENCE
The Cardinals' roster is bolstered by several players who have gained valuable experience within their countries' national programs. The following is a list of players and their national or developmental squads.
Alli Bitting - USWNT U21 Team (2019), Development Team (2020)
Erica Cooper- USWNT U21 Team (2019)
Mackenzie Karl - USWNT U17 Team (2015-16)
Filippa Niebuhr - German U16 Team
Sofia Pendolino - USWNT RISE Team
Aimee Plumb - England U19 Team (2018-19)
Katie Schneider - USWNT U19 Team (2019)
Minna Tremonti - USWNT U19 Team (2019)

HOMEGROWN TALENT
The UofL field hockey team features six players who chose to play for their hometown school: seniors Erica Cooper (Assumption), Sam Minrath (Christian Academy) juniors Camryn Pichea (Assumption) and Mattie Tabor (Sacred Heart), redshirt sophomore India Reed (duPont Manual) and sophomore Embry Jane (EJ) Imorde (Sacred Heart).

HOME SWEET HOME
Louisville started the 2021 season with five wins in the friendly confines of Trager Stadium this season, extending its home win streak to 12 games. On Sunday, Sept. 19, the streak ended with a 2-0 loss to No. 2 Iowa. Prior to that, the Cardinals' last home loss was on November 17, 2019 against Boston College in the quarterfinals of the NCAA championship. They now have a 6-1 record at Trager Stadium this year.
•The Cardinals compiled a 7-0 record in the 2020-21 season. Facing a daunting home slate in the COVID-19-altered season, Louisville defeated Duke twice in its opening weekend. The following weekend, UofL defeated two-time defending national champion North Carolina 3-1, halting the Tar Heels' 47-game win streak. Louisville wrapped up the home season with a 2-1 win against 2019 semifinalist Boston College. The Cards defeated No. 14 Virginia in the 2021 spring home opener.
• Last year, the Cardinals were 8-2 on the season at Trager Stadium, bringing their home record to 63-13 since the 2013 season.
•UofL owned a 5-3 record at Trager Stadium in 2018.
• Louisville compiled a 9-3 record at Trager Stadium in 2017.
• The Cards were 8-1 at Trager in 2014. On Oct. 17, 2014 Louisville fell 2-1 in overtime to No. 17 Boston College, snapping a 16 -game home victory streak dating back to the 2012 season.
• Prior to the Boston College loss in 2014, the Cards' last home loss came on Nov. 2, 2012 when they fell 2-1 in overtime to then-No. 5 Connecticut in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship.
• In 2013, UofL posted a perfect 10-0 record at Trager Stadium, going undefeated at home for the first time in school history.
• The 6-2 loss to No. 4 Michigan snapped a 28-game win streak against non-conference opponents at Trager Stadium dating back to 2012. Prior to the Oct. 22 setback, the Cardinals had not lost to a non-conference opponent at home since Aug. 24, 2012 when they fell to Northeastern in their season opener. - Louisville also lost a 2-1 decision to UConn on Oct. 6, 2012 when both teams were members of the BIG EAST Conference.

Third-Ranked Louisville Hits the Road for Sunday Matchup at No. 2 Michigan

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Players Mentioned

Alli Bitting

Erica Cooper

Mila de Kuijer

Emilia Kaczmarczyk

Mackenzie Karl

Julie Kouijzer

Sam Minrath

Filippa Niebuhr

Sofia Pendolino

Camryn Pichea

Aimee Plumb

India Reed

Katie Schneider

Mattie Tabor

Minna Tremonti

Charlie van Oirschot

University of Louisville Athletics