No. 10 Cards Fall Short Against No. 3 Duke in ACC Semifinals

Wednesday, November 1

Charlottesville, VA

3:30 PM

University of Louisville

(14-6)

Duke

(16-3)

Louisville

Duke

No. 10 Cards Fall Short Against No. 3 Duke in ACC Semifinals

November 01, 2023 | Field Hockey

Box Score

In an ACC semifinal battle between two top-10 team, Louisville was held scoreless for only the second time this season

By: Lori Harmon

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The third-seeded University of Louisville field hockey team fell 1-0 to the No. 2 seed Duke in an Atlantic Coast Conference semifinal battle between a pair of top-10 teams Wednesday afternoon at Virginia's Turf Field.

"I thought we played pretty well today," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "We definitely went at them early and had some great opportunities, but their defense and goalkeeper played very, very well. Duke executed in critical moments and we did not - and that's a difference maker. Overall, it's pleasing to see our improvement over the last couple of games. It was disappointing to lose, but definitely a lot of positive things that we can take moving forward hopefully into the NCAA tournament.

In the game, the Cardinals outshot the Blue Devils 10-6 and held a 7-3 edge in penalty corners, but were unable to capitalize on their opportunities with Duke goalkeeper Piper Hampsch collecting six saves to keep Louisville scoreless for only the second time this season. The Blue Devils (16-3) advance to Friday's championship game to take on top-seeded North Carolina.

Louisville attacked early in the game, outshooting the Blue Devils 5-1 and earning four corners in the first quarter, but it was Duke who broke through first behind Hannah Miller's goal in the opening minute of the second quarter.

The teams battled through the remainder of the game, trading possession and scoring opportunities, but both defenses locked down. Louisville goalkeeper Merlijn van der Vegt, who posted three saves in the game was lifted for an extra field player with 4:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Cardinals could not break through.

Louisville (14-6) will await the NCAA selection show Sunday at 10 p.m.

"I do feel our body of work is enough to get us into the tournament and with the hockey that we're playing right now, I wouldn't want to be playing against us next week," said Sowry.