Cardinals Fall 1-0 in Overtime to Harvard in NCAA Tournament

Friday, November 12

Ann Arbor, MI

University of Louisville

(16-4)

Harvard

(16-1)

Harvard

Louisville

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

Cardinals Fall 1-0 in Overtime to Harvard in NCAA Tournament

November 12, 2021 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Lori Harmon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The sixth-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team fell 1-0 in overtime to No. 12 Harvard in the first round of the 2021 NCAA tournament Friday afternoon at Michigan's Ocker Field. Louisville finishes the season at 16-4, matching a program record for wins.

Avery Donahue's goal with 4:36 remaining in overtime broke through nearly 66 minutes of scoreless hockey when she connected on a feed from Mimi Tarrant as the Crimson (16-1) advanced to the quarterfinals to face No. 2 Michigan on Sunday.

"Congratulations to Harvard. They played a great game against us. Some very talented individuals and a defense that was difficult to get positive outcomes. It could have gone either way but unfortunately in the end, it wasn't our way," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "Obviously very disappointed in the result today. I feel for this team right now - I feel for the seniors. At times there are no words, and this moment feels like one of those times. We feel a little bit of shock. But, I am so proud of this group of strong women and the season we had this year and we need to hold our heads up high."

The game was tightly-contested both teams tallied two shots on goal with Harvard holding a 10-7 advantage in shots and a 6-4 edge in penalty corners. Louisville freshman Mila de Kuijer had one save in the game while Harvard's Ellie Shahbo collected two stops as the Cardinals were shutout for only the second time this season.

Scoring opportunities were limited in the first half with neither team managing a shot in the opening quarter. In the second frame, Louisville held a 3-2 edge in shots with Charlie van Oirschot's attempt landing on goal. Harvard held a 2-1 advantage in penalty corners entering halftime.

After the break, Louisville held a 3-2 edge in shots, one on goal and had two corners, but could not capitalize and the game remained tied at 0-0 entering the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, UofL's defense withstood a series of four straight Harvard corners to hold the Crimson at bay. The Cardinals were awarded a penalty corner midway through the frame, but Katie Schneider's shot was blocked.

With the scored still knotted at 0-0, the contest entered a 7v7 sudden-victory overtime period.

Louisville began to push early, but Harvard was able to fire off a pair of shots, with Donahue's game-winner occurring in the sixth minute of the overtime period.

Louisville closes the season after achieving numerous milestones including going 6-0 in ACC play en route to winning the 2021 ACC regular season title and matching a program record for victories. The Cardinals reached the NCAA tournament for the 10^th time, earning its seventh at-large bid in the last eight years.

NOTES
• At 16-4 on the season, Louisville tied a program record for victories. The record was set with a 16-5 mark in 2001 and matched in 2019 when the Cards finished the season at 16-6. It also marked the fewest losses since 1983.
• In the 2021 season, the Cardinals were 6-2 in overtime games.
• UofL finished the campaign with a 10-4 against top-25 teams.
• The senior class: Alli Bitting, Erica Cooper, Mackenzie Karl, Sam Minrath, Camryn Pichea and Katie Schneider, helped the program reach four NCAA tournaments and two quarterfinal appearances as well as the 2020 semifinals. They have helped the Cardinals to a pair of ACC regular season championships in back-to-back years.
• Additionally, with 59 victories in four years, they are the winningest senior class in program history with fifth-year senior Alli Bitting also part of the 2017 squad which registered 14 wins and a runner-up finish in that year's ACC tournament. Bitting finishes her career having played in 102 games with 95 starts.